Nuclear power plant stock photo.
Larry Lee Photo | Corbis | Getty Images
google and major American power companies NextEra Energy A partnership to revive Iowa’s only nuclear power plant to meet the growing demand for low-carbon energy powered by artificial intelligence was announced Monday.
The Duane Arnold Energy Center, which closed in 2020, could begin operations in early 2029, pending regulatory approval.
“Once operational, Google will purchase power from the 615 MW power plant as a 24/7 carbon-free energy source to power Google’s growing cloud and AI infrastructure in Iowa, while strengthening the reliability of the local power grid,” the companies said in a press release.
Central Iowa Electric Cooperative, the state’s largest energy provider, has agreed to let Google buy its excess power.
The previous closure of the Duane Arnold Energy Center came at a time when the nuclear sector was struggling to compete with natural gas and other renewable energy sources due to high operating costs and public perception issues regarding safety.
But the return of nuclear facilities marks a trend, as tech companies such as Google invest billions of dollars to develop power-hungry AI data centers and U.S. energy demand soars.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, total annual electricity consumption in the United States reached an all-time high in 2024. If data centers continue to grow at their current pace, that limit is likely to rise further.
In the face of growing energy demand, Washington and the tech industry have promoted nuclear energy as a potential way to address growing concerns about the impact of AI computing on the region’s energy grid.
The Iowa project follows similar nuclear partnerships, including one between Constellation Energy and Microsoft. Meanwhile, computer giant Oracle recently announced that it is designing a data center equipped with three small nuclear reactors.
In addition to bringing more energy online, nuclear energy offers a potential pathway for Big Tech companies to continue rolling out data centers while curbing their carbon footprint.
“(Google and NextEra’s partnership) is a model for the investments needed across the country to build energy capacity and deliver reliable, clean power while protecting affordability and creating jobs that power an AI-driven economy,” said Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google.
The media took notice when Google quietly removed its pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 from the main page of its corporate sustainability website in June, amid an expansion of its AI plans.
Data center projects across the United States are also facing growing public opposition. Google withdrew plans to build a new data center in Indiana in September after local groups raised concerns about resource use and environmental impact, according to local media reports.
Meanwhile, Iowa has so far shown an openness to such projects, with Google investing more than $6.8 billion in data centers in the state. Iowa lawmakers praised the latest project in a joint release, saying it will support local jobs and the energy grid.
“Bringing Duane Arnold back online is a huge win for Linn County and all of Iowa,” said State Sen. Charlie McClintock, adding that the announcement shows Iowa can “keep the lights on” for residents and businesses.
