A seasoned science reporter with extensive experience in environmental and energy reporting, she is also the host of the podcast Hell or High Water: When Disaster Hits Home, produced by Vox Media and Audible Originals.

In a significant development for the nuclear energy sector, an aging power plant in Illinois that has been on the brink of closure since 2017 has found new hope. On this day, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced that it will support the Clinton Clean Energy Center for the next two decades. This strategic partnership with energy company Constellation marks a pivotal moment not only for the plant but also for Meta as it seeks to reduce its carbon footprint amid growing energy demands from artificial intelligence (AI) operations.

The Clinton Clean Energy Center, located in central Illinois, was initially slated to cease operations in 2017 after suffering ongoing financial losses. A tax credit established by the state for carbon pollution-free energy allowed the plant to maintain operations, but that security was only guaranteed until 2027. The recent agreement with Meta is expected to provide the financial stability needed to extend operations beyond that date, although the company has opted not to disclose the specific financial terms of the agreement.

This partnership is expected to yield tangible results, allowing the plant to implement necessary upgrades that will boost its energy output by an additional 30 megawatts, bringing its total capacity to 1,121 megawatts. For context, this capacity is comparable to the first offshore wind farm in the United States, which features just five turbines off the coast of Rhode Island and has a capacity of 30 megawatts—enough to supply electricity to approximately 17,000 homes.

Keeping the Clinton Clean Energy Center operational is crucial not only for energy production but also for local employment. The plant is projected to save about 1,100 jobs in the region and generate electricity sufficient to power around 800,000 homes. First licensed in 1987, Constellation has applied to renew the plant's license through 2047 to ensure its operational longevity.

This agreement marks Meta’s inaugural venture into nuclear power purchase agreements—arrangements commonly made by companies looking to neutralize the environmental impact of their energy consumption. The Clinton plant generates both electricity and “clean energy attributes,” which are akin to certificates that signify the environmental benefits of producing carbon-free energy. The income generated from these attributes is intended to encourage further clean energy development, ultimately aiming to lower emissions from power grids in the long run, though the actual effects of such initiatives are often debated.

As part of this agreement, Meta will purchase an undisclosed amount of these clean energy attributes to help offset a portion of its electricity usage. The company has set a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. However, its most recent sustainability report reveals a troubling trend: Meta’s carbon emissions have grown since 2019, largely due to an increased focus on energy-intensive AI projects.

Alongside Meta, other tech giants like Google and Microsoft have also reported rising emissions linked to their expanding energy needs for AI. Meta has faced backlash over plans to construct its largest data center in Louisiana, where the local utility is proposing the construction of three new gas plants to meet the power demands of the site.

The push-pull dynamic between fulfilling the energy needs of AI and their consequent impact on power grids and the environment has breathed new life into the nuclear energy sector in the U.S. Last year, Microsoft inked a deal with Constellation aimed at bringing the previously closed Three Mile Island reactor back online. Similarly, Meta has joined Amazon and Google in endorsing the advancement of next-generation reactor technologies.

In a proactive move, Meta has issued a request for proposals aimed at nuclear projects that can contribute between 1,000 and 4,000 megawatts of new generation capacity in the U.S. by the early 2030s. The company has indicated that it is currently in “final discussions” with a shortlist of potential projects after receiving over 50 proposals. Constellation has also expressed interest in possibly developing an advanced nuclear reactor at the Clinton site.