Google and Constellation Energy strike 20-year nuclear power deal for 3.6 GW

Google and Constellation Energy strike a 20-year agreement for 3,590 megawatts of power, enabling over $4.3 billion in investment to upgrade 11 nuclear reactors in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The deal, which includes 890 megawatts of nuclear capacity starting in 2028, responds to PJM Interconnection's proposal requiring data centers to bring their own power. It highlights a growing trend of tech giants securing nuclear energy to power expanding data centers.

Structure of the power agreement

• ▪On October 6, 2026, Google agreed to buy 3,590 megawatts from Constellation Energy in the PJM Interconnection grid over 20 years: 890 megawatts from upgraded nuclear power plants and 2,700 megawatts not tied to a specific generation source
• ▪Google stated that the 2,700 megawatts of power it agreed to purchase from Constellation Energy, not tied to a specific generation source, serves as long-term revenue certainty for Constellation Energy's operating plants

Upgrading existing nuclear reactors

• ▪The 890-megawatt agreement between Google and Constellation Energy involves upgrading 11 nuclear units owned by Constellation Energy in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to produce more electricity from existing reactors
• ▪The 890-megawatt agreement between Google and Constellation Energy is the largest deal yet to squeeze more power out of existing nuclear reactors, a process known as an uprate
• ▪The 890-megawatt agreement between Google and Constellation Energy will enable more than $4.3 billion of new investment by Constellation Energy to add capacity at several of its nuclear reactors

Response to proposed grid requirements

• ▪PJM Interconnection management proposed requiring data center customers connected to its 13-state grid to bring their own power or face remote shutoffs during peak demand
• ▪Google and Constellation Energy stated that their October 6, 2026, 3,590-megawatt power agreement was made in response to PJM Interconnection's proposed grid requirements

Previous nuclear power agreements

• ▪Constellation Energy previously agreed to restart its Three Mile Island reactor in Pennsylvania to serve Microsoft data centers
• ▪Google previously contracted to restart NextEra Energy's nuclear power plant in Iowa to secure electricity supplies

Debatable claims

• ▪Upgrading existing nuclear reactors is an effective way to expand clean energy capacity
• ▪Nuclear power is the most suitable energy source for data centers
• ▪The rapid growth of data centers poses an unacceptable risk to grid reliability
• ▪Grid operators should require data centers to secure their own power supplies