Google and NextEra revive Iowa nuclear plant to power AI growth

Google and NextEra Energy have joined forces to bring Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center back online by 2029, aiming to meet the surging electricity demands of artificial intelligence and data centers. Closed in 2020, the nuclear facility will provide 615 megawatts of carbon-free power once it resumes operation, pending regulatory approval. Google plans to use the energy to run its expanding AI and cloud infrastructure in Iowa, while excess electricity will be sold to the Central Iowa Power Cooperative. The move marks a renewed embrace of nuclear energy as the U.S. faces record-high power consumption. In 2024, the nation’s electricity use reached an all-time peak, largely driven by data center growth.

Nuclear energy, once overshadowed by natural gas and renewables, is gaining fresh interest from tech giants seeking reliable, clean power sources. The partnership between Google and NextEra follows similar ventures, such as Microsoft’s collaboration with Constellation Energy and Oracle’s plans for data centers powered by small nuclear reactors. Industry leaders and policymakers see nuclear revival as key to ensuring grid stability while cutting carbon emissions. Alphabet and Google President Ruth Porat described the project as a model for national energy investment, highlighting its role in creating jobs and sustaining the AI-driven economy.

The announcement comes months after Google quietly removed its 2030 net-zero pledge from its main sustainability page, raising questions about its environmental direction amid rapid AI expansion. Critics have also voiced concerns over the environmental and resource impact of data centers, leading Google to withdraw a proposed Indiana facility earlier this year. However, Iowa has remained welcoming, with Google investing more than $6.8 billion in local projects to date. State Senator Charlie McClintock praised the revival of Duane Arnold as a major win for both Linn County and Iowa, emphasizing the benefits for energy reliability and employment. The initiative underscores a broader shift in U.S. energy strategy, blending technological innovation with efforts to secure a sustainable power future.