Meta's Nuclear Race: Over 6 Gigawatts to Dominate the AI Era

Meta positions itself as a giant in the nuclear energy industry

Mark Zuckerberg's company has closed a massive set of energy agreements that make it one of the largest corporate buyers of nuclear energy in U.S. history. These contracts, announced recently, aim to ensure a supply of clean, uninterrupted electricity while Meta deploys its unprecedented scale of artificial intelligence infrastructure.

How much energy are we talking about? The agreements will total over 6 gigawatts of generating capacity, equivalent to powering approximately 5 million homes. A figure that reflects the magnitude of the energy demand generated by the explosion of AI development.

Three pillars: Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower

Meta has structured its nuclear strategy around three clear fronts:

With Vistra Energy, the company has signed power purchase agreements for two decades. These agreements include access to three nuclear facilities located in Ohio and Pennsylvania: the Perry and Davis-Besse plants, plus the Beaver Valley facility. The commitment is long-term and offers the stability that modern data centers require.

The innovation of the future, however, comes from Oklo and TerraPower. Both companies are developing next-generation reactors, more compact and efficient. TerraPower is backed by entrepreneur Bill Gates, who leads a vision of decentralized nuclear energy. These new reactors are expected to begin operations before the end of this decade, adding hundreds of megawatts to Meta's energy portfolio.

The market reacts

Investors responded enthusiastically: Oklo and Vistra shares experienced gains of over 13% during the morning session following the announcement. A clear sign that the market perceives these agreements as transformational for the U.S. nuclear sector.

Meta is not alone in this movement

Meta's strategy aligns with similar decisions by other tech giants. Google and Microsoft are also exploring nuclear options to power their AI processing centers. All share the same premise: nuclear energy offers consistent production, low carbon emissions, and the reliability needed for next-generation computing.

Precedents: the case of Constellation Energy

Meta had already set a precedent with its previous agreement with Constellation Energy, through which the company committed to being a long-term buyer of energy from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. That contract was crucial to keep the plant operational when its future was uncertain. Now, with these larger nuclear agreements, Meta reinforces its commitment to clean energy and positions nuclear technology as a central component of its future infrastructure.

According to statements from Meta executives, these combined commitments will transform the company into “one of the most significant corporate buyers of nuclear energy in U.S. history.” A colossal investment that underscores how much 21st-century AI will depend on reliable and sustainable energy sources.