Google and NextEra Energy have announced a long-term nuclear energy supply partnership after reactivating the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa. This agreement aims to strengthen the country’s electric grid and power the growing digital infrastructure based on artificial intelligence.
Nuclear power and strategic revitalization in Iowa
Located in Linn County, the Duane Arnold nuclear plant was shut down in 2020, but will return to operation following a strategic investment that will allow NextEra Energy to assume full control of the facility. The plant is expected to be operational during the first quarter of 2029, with a generating capacity of 615 MW of clean, constant power. This electricity will be used to power Google’s data centers in Iowa through a 25-year supply contract.
This agreement comes in the context of the accelerated growth of artificial intelligence, which has increased the demand for continuous, reliable and emission-free energy. Google is committed to nuclear energy as the basis for the growth of its cloud infrastructure, reducing its carbon footprint without compromising the performance of its operations.
The reactivation of Duane Arnold will bring an economic boost to Iowa. Approximately 400 direct, high-quality jobs are estimated to be created, along with another 1,200 indirect and induced jobs. In addition, the project projects more than $9 billion in economic benefits, reinforcing the Midwest’s role in the nation’s energy transition.
In addition to the Iowa-specific contract, Google and NextEra have agreed to jointly explore new opportunities for advanced nuclear generation development on a national scale. This alliance is intended to anticipate future electricity needs arising from the adoption of emerging technologies such as generative AI.
This initiative represents a replicable model for other regions of the country, where private investment in clean energy can complement public efforts to strengthen electricity infrastructure. With similar projects, Google has worked with NextEra on more than 3 GW of energy capacity across the United States.
Source and photo: NextEra Energy