Microsoft has partnered with Constellation Energy to revive the Unit 1 reactor at Three Mile Island, the site of the worst nuclear disaster in US history. The move aims to provide carbon-free energy for Microsoft’s data centers and support its artificial intelligence ambitions.
The deal, announced Friday, involves a 20-year agreement for Constellation to exclusively sell power from the reopened reactor to Microsoft. Financial terms were not disclosed. The project is subject to Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval and is expected to be revived in 2028.
The reopening of Three Mile Island’s Unit 1 reactor will add 3,400 direct and indirect jobs, more than 800 megawatts of electricity to the grid, and $16 billion to Pennsylvania’s GDP. Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez emphasized the importance of nuclear energy as a reliable baseload source that can consistently deliver power.
The project is enabled by President Biden’s climate bill, which provides tax credits for clean energy from nuclear sources. The move comes as tech giants like Microsoft increasingly turn to nuclear energy to fuel their AI ambitions and meet their lofty climate goals.
“This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonize the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative,” said Bobby Hollis, vice president of energy for Microsoft.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/09/20/energy/three-mile-island-microsoft-ai