Google Bets $4.3 Billion on Nuclear Power to Fuel AI Data Centers

The agreement targets 11 reactors across Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, all of which feed into the PJM Interconnection. As the nation’s largest power grid, PJM has faced mounting pressure to support the massive energy appetite of data hubs, particularly in Northern Virginia. The upgrades involve installing new equipment to boost efficiency, effectively generating power equivalent to a large new reactor.

This move addresses growing concerns regarding grid reliability. An independent market monitor recently warned federal regulators that PJM’s current trajectory—allowing rapid data center expansion without sufficient power reserves—threatens to trigger blackouts. By securing this long-term commitment, Google and Constellation are attempting to stabilize the regional infrastructure while ensuring that the infrastructure supporting AI development does not outpace the available energy supply.