Last October, Google announced plans to revive the dormant Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Iowa, and the facility's owner, NextEra Energy, recently secured a $1.9 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to support this refurbishment. This significant loan marks the second major government-backed nuclear restart project aligned with tech industry energy needs, following a $1 billion loan last year to Constellation Energy for revitalizing the Three Mile Island reactor. The Iowa plant is expected to restart in 2029, with a portion of its 615 megawatts capacity dedicated to local power demands, potentially covering nearly a fifth of Iowa’s growth in electricity usage since 2021.

Google aims to leverage the refurbished plant to power up to six new data centers near the site, addressing the soaring energy demands driven by AI technology and broader economic electrification. The plant had been shuttered in 2020 due to damage from severe rainstorms and the earlier economic disadvantage posed by inexpensive natural gas. However, rising electricity needs and a shift toward clean, reliable power sources have repositioned nuclear energy as a crucial solution for tech companies grounded in AI development.

These moves are part of a broader trend where technology firms partner with nuclear operators to secure clean, stable energy for their rapidly growing data center operations. Microsoft, for example, is supporting the restart of the Three Mile Island reactor, and Meta has acquired clean energy attributes from a nuclear plant in Illinois to offset emissions from its AI data centers. The renewed focus on nuclear power by tech giants reflects the growing urgency to meet massive projected increases in data center power consumption, expected to nearly triple by 2035.

NextEra's Duane Arnold refurbishment, along with these other projects, highlight the U.S. government's and tech industry’s commitment to reviving nuclear power infrastructure as a strategic asset in the energy transition. While these plants offer an expedient source of firm, carbon-free electricity, their revival also exemplifies the shift in energy economics and policy priorities responding to the explosive growth of AI and electrification across the economy.