Google to revive shuttered U.S. nuclear plant to power AI, mirroring Microsoft’s push

Google plans to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa by 2029 under a 25-year power purchase agreement with NextEra Energy, expanding capacity for its cloud and AI operations. NextEra will own 100% of the facility after buying out minority stakes, positioning the reactor as a carbon-free anchor for data center growth. The move echoes Microsoft’s agreement with Constellation to supply power tied to the restart of Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island—rebranded as the Crane Clean Energy Center—under a 20-year deal. The push comes as the IEA projects data centers’ electricity use will more than double by 2030, intensifying the race among hyperscalers to secure firm, clean baseload power. Google is also pursuing additional capacity, including a venture with Elementl Power to develop advanced nuclear plants in the U.S.

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