Meta has emerged as the largest corporate buyer of nuclear energy among artificial intelligence-focused technology companies after signing multiple long-term power agreements aimed at supporting its rapidly expanding data center footprint.
According to Bloomberg, the newly signed contracts are expected to supply more than six gigawatts of electricity, a level of capacity Meta will require as it brings new large-scale AI data centers online in the coming years. The company is currently completing construction of its 1-gigawatt “Prometheus” data center in Ohio, which is scheduled to begin operations later this year. A significantly larger 5-gigawatt facility known as “Hyperion,” located in Louisiana, is planned to come online in 2028.
Together, the two projects will demand at least six gigawatts of reliable power—an amount that poses challenges in a U.S. grid that is struggling to expand at the same pace as data center development.
Nuclear partnerships span established utilities and startups
Meta’s electricity supply will be sourced from three nuclear providers. The largest share comes from Vistra Corp., which will deliver 2,176 megawatts from its Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear plants in Ohio. An additional 433 megawatts will be added across those facilities and the Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania.
The remaining capacity is tied to agreements with two nuclear startups: Oklo, which is backed by OpenAI, and TerraPower, supported by Bill Gates and Nvidia. Both companies are developing small modular reactors, though commercial deployment is not expected until the 2030s.
In a statement, Uvri Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy, said the company views nuclear power as a strategic investment. He emphasized that the technology offers clean and dependable energy critical for advancing Meta’s AI ambitions while also supporting domestic energy innovation and economic growth.
Power supply becomes a limiting factor for AI growth
Meta founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has repeatedly warned that electricity availability will become a key constraint on AI expansion. Building new power plants and upgrading transmission infrastructure often takes many years, creating a mismatch between energy supply and the rapid pace of data center construction.
Some hyperscale operators have turned to on-site generators as a temporary solution, allowing facilities to operate before being fully connected to the grid. While costly, this approach avoids long delays. Meta’s nuclear agreements, particularly the nearly 2.2-gigawatt deal with Vistra, are expected to allow the company to power its Prometheus facility as soon as construction is complete.
By aligning power availability with its build schedule, Meta may be avoiding prolonged reliance on interim power solutions—potentially saving millions, or even billions, of dollars in long-term energy costs. The strategy highlights how access to electricity is increasingly shaping competition among companies racing to scale AI infrastructure.
