Nuclear Power Deal Highlights Data Center Energy Demands
A deal between NextEra Energy and Google will restart a nuclear power plant in Iowa that has been shut down for five years. The move underscores the growing energy demand from data centers and marks a significant revival of interest in nuclear power as a stable and carbon-free energy source.
The announcement came as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission studies how nuclear power could fit into Oklahoma’s long-term energy strategy. Simultaneously, two Kansas counties are competing to host small nuclear reactors, a development that could reshape the region’s energy landscape.
Duane Arnold Energy Center to Resume Operations in 2029
In Iowa, the Duane Arnold Energy Center near Cedar Rapids will resume operations in 2029. The facility, which served as Iowa’s only nuclear power plant, closed in 2020 after 45 years of operation.
Under the new agreement, NextEra Energy, a Florida-based company with more than two dozen energy projects in Oklahoma, will operate the 615-megawatt plant. Google, which already operates data centers in Oklahoma, will purchase electricity from the facility under a 25-year power agreement.
The Duane Arnold plant restart demonstrates a clear connection between AI-driven electricity demands and the renewed national focus on nuclear energy.
Growing Corporate Investment in Nuclear Energy
NextEra and Google’s partnership follows a similar move by Constellation Energy and Microsoft, which announced plans to reopen the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania earlier this year. Both projects reflect the tech sector’s growing reliance on clean, uninterrupted power to meet AI and data processing demands.
As part of their Iowa deal, NextEra Energy and Google plan to explore advanced nuclear technologies capable of enhancing grid reliability and scalability.
NextEra Energy CEO John Ketchum called the project a major step forward.
“Our partnership with Google not only brings nuclear energy back to Iowa — it also accelerates the development of next-generation nuclear technology,” Ketchum said.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said the partnership shows how corporate collaboration can drive cleaner, more affordable power.
“This partnership serves as a model for the investments needed across the country to build energy capacity and deliver reliable, clean power, while protecting affordability and creating jobs that will drive the AI-driven economy,” Porat told Reuters.
NextEra to Take Full Ownership of Iowa Nuclear Facility
Under the terms of the agreement, NextEra Energy will eventually own 100% of the Duane Arnold Energy Center. The company will acquire the remaining 30% minority stake from Central Iowa Power Cooperative and Corn Belt Power Cooperative.
This expansion reinforces NextEra’s commitment to nuclear power as a critical part of America’s clean energy future. It also demonstrates how corporate partnerships like those with Google and Microsoft could fuel the next generation of reliable, carbon-free energy across Oklahoma and beyond.
