Google has entered into a 20-year agreement with Constellation to upgrade six nuclear power plant sites across the United States. This initiative aims to increase electricity generation for Google's data centers by adding 890 megawatts of nuclear capacity over the next five years. Constellation plans to invest more than $4.3 billion to modernize 11 reactors located in Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
The upgraded sites connect to the PJM Interconnection grid, which serves 13 states and the District of Columbia. PJM has faced challenges meeting the rising energy demands of AI data centers, leading to regulatory scrutiny and the postponement of power auctions. Electricity rates in states like New Jersey have increased by 54 percent over the past five years.
In addition to the nuclear deal, Google signed a separate 15-year energy supply agreement with Constellation. This second contract covers 2,700 megawatts of capacity from existing power plants regardless of fuel type. According to Google's sustainability report, the company's carbon emissions rose by 18 percent last year, while electricity demand grew by 37 percent.
