Google signs 3.6GW nuclear power deal with Constellation for AI data centers
In short
Google said it signed a power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy, the largest US nuclear power operator, for about 3.6 gigawatts (3,590MW) of electricity to serve AI data center demand. About 890MW will come from 11 nuclear plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey from 2028 under 20-year terms, backed by more than $4.3 billion in Constellation upgrades, with a further 2,700MW contracted for 15 years in the PJM region. Neither company disclosed the contract value, which Bloomberg reported at about $1 billion.
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Google said it signed a power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy, the largest US nuclear power operator, for 3,590 megawatts (about 3.6 gigawatts) of electricity, according to reports by Asia Economy and Electronic Times. Yonhap reported the contract as a response to the power demand of Google's AI data centers. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
A quarter of the total, 890MW, will come from 11 Constellation nuclear plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey that the company is modernizing, with deliveries starting in 2028 under a 20-year term. Constellation plans to invest more than $4.3 billion (5.8 trillion won) in upgrading those facilities. Electronic Times reported a further 2,700MW contract covering 15 years of supply in the PJM grid region. [ 3 , 4 ]
The two companies also agreed a five-year technology partnership to apply Google Cloud and Google's Gemini Enterprise AI to Constellation's power plant operations and wider infrastructure. Google said the agreement fits the White House ratepayer protection pledge, under which data center operators bear power costs directly so that ordinary customers are not charged. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of energy and power, said the company would “actively invest in clean and reliable power sources” that secure new generation capacity and “achieve growth responsibly.” [ 3 , 4 ]
Neither company disclosed the contract value. Yonhap reported on Oct 6, citing Bloomberg and unnamed sources, that the deal would be worth about $1 billion (1.34 trillion won) and that an announcement was expected within the week; at that point Google and Constellation both declined to comment. The $1 billion figure has not been confirmed by either company in the accounts reviewed. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The companies said the agreement maintains 4,400 existing jobs and creates 7,200 new construction jobs. Korea Economic Daily reported in its headline that Constellation shares jumped 12%. [ 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Big technology companies have been turning to nuclear power for AI data centers because, unlike solar or wind, reactors supply power steadily around the clock regardless of weather and emit no carbon, Yonhap reported. Amazon recently contracted 690MW from Constellation, including upgraded capacity at the Calvert Cliffs plant in Maryland; Microsoft agreed in 2024 to buy all the power from a restarted Three Mile Island; and Google has contracted with NextEra Energy to support restarting Iowa's Duane Arnold reactor and is funding upgrades at two Southern Company nuclear plants. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The agreement adds to a run of nuclear power contracts by large technology companies seeking steady, carbon-free electricity for AI data centers, tying AI expansion to existing and upgraded reactors. It also lands as the White House presses data center operators to carry their own power costs, and Google presented the deal as consistent with that pledge. Korea Economic Daily reported the news moved Constellation's shares, suggesting investors expect more such contracts.
Key facts
- Google signed a power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy, the largest US nuclear power operator, for about 3.6GW (3,590MW) of power, according to the companies' announcement reported by Korean outlets. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Of the total, 890MW will come from 11 Constellation nuclear plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey that are being modernized, starting in 2028 for 20 years. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Constellation plans to invest more than $4.3 billion (5.8 trillion won) in upgrading those facilities. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A separate 2,700MW contract covers 15 years of supply in the PJM grid region. [ 4 ]
- The two companies agreed a five-year technology partnership to apply Google Cloud and Google's Gemini Enterprise AI to Constellation's plant operations and infrastructure. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Google said the deal complies with the White House ratepayer protection pledge, under which data center operators bear power costs directly rather than passing them to ordinary customers. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The companies said the agreement maintains 4,400 existing jobs and creates 7,200 new construction jobs. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The contract value was not disclosed; Bloomberg reported it at about $1 billion (1.34 trillion won). [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Google signed a power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy covering about 3.6GW (3,590MW) of electricity. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- 890MW of the total comes from 11 Constellation nuclear plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, delivered from 2028 for 20 years. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Constellation plans to invest more than $4.3 billion in facility upgrades tied to the contract. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Google and Constellation agreed a five-year technology partnership applying Google Cloud and Gemini Enterprise to Constellation's operations. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Google said the agreement fits the White House ratepayer protection pledge and does not shift costs to ordinary customers. [ 3 , 4 ]
- The companies said the agreement maintains 4,400 existing jobs and creates 7,200 new construction jobs. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- The value of the contract. Google and Constellation did not disclose it; the about $1 billion figure comes from Bloomberg via Yonhap and has not been confirmed by either company.
- Which specific plants supply the remaining capacity of the 3,590MW beyond the 890MW modernization portion. The documents specify the 11 plants behind 890MW in three states but do not name the sources of the rest.
- Constellation's reported 12% share rise. It appears only in one outlet's headline, with no market data or figure in the article text.
- The final timing and terms of the announcement. Yonhap first reported that an announcement was expected within the week and that both companies declined to comment; later reports say Google announced the contract on Oct 6 local time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On Oct 6, Yonhap reports, citing Bloomberg and unnamed sources, that Alphabet's Google is close to a power supply contract with Constellation worth about $1 billion, with an announcement expected within the week; both companies decline to comment. [ 1 ]
- On Oct 7, Yonhap reports that Google has signed a power purchase agreement with the largest US nuclear operator for 3.6GW to meet AI data center demand. [ 2 ]
- Asia Economy publishes the terms: 3,590MW in total, 890MW from 11 plants in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey from 2028 for 20 years, more than $4.3 billion in Constellation investment, and a five-year technology partnership. [ 3 ]
- Electronic Times reports an additional 2,700MW PJM contract for 15 years and the job figures of 4,400 maintained and 7,200 created. [ 4 ]
- Korea Economic Daily's headline reports Constellation shares up 12%. [ 5 ]