Meta has ink a deal to maintain an Illinois nuclear power plant running over the next 20 years so that it can power artificial intelligence and data center ambition.
Deal sees tech giant purchase of 1.1 gigawatts of power from nuclear power provider constellation from Clinton Clean Energy Center in Southern Illinois starting in 2027, Meta Says on June 3.
“As we look at our future energy needs in the AI promotion, we recognize the immense amount of nuclear strength in providing reliable, stable electricity,” Meta added.
Meta, like other tech giant, is heavy Leaning on AI In the middle of the ongoing hype around the tech and that -emed its own AI models on the chief platforms of social media, Facebook and Instagram. It also plans to fully automatically create ads on platforms by the end of 2025, the Wall Street Journal reported On June 2.
Currently, AI technology requires a wide amount of energy that is in high demand. The International Energy Agency reported In April that the power demanded by AI data centers is expected to be more than twice as of 2030 to eat “slightly more than Japan’s full electricity consumption today.”
Meta said the agreement ensures a “critical plant will remain online” and meet the growing energy needs while adding 30 megawatts of increasing capacity to the grid.
Meta added that her cooperation with the constellation will maintain more than 1,100 jobs and contribute $ 13.5 million annually to tax income without the state’s zero emission credit program -maintaining operations without further raatepayer support.
Many lawmakers in Illinois are Pleased To hear about the deal, including Republican Regan Deering, who said it was a “forward-thinking investment” that would boost the local economy.
Clinton was almost closed in 2017
The Clinton Nuclear facility was set to close in 2017 after many years of financial losses despite being one of the best nuclear -playing plants in the state, constellation mentioned In the statement of June 3.
However, it was saved by enacting the Future Energy Jobs Act of Illinois, which established the zero emission credit program to support the plant until mid-2027.
The constellation agreement with the meta means that the Clinton plant can work without the support of the taxpayer.
Related: Google’s nuclear power plan may change cryptocurrency mining
An Assessment From Consulting Firm Brattle Group in March found that Clinton’s shutter Raise the leaks With more than 34 million metric tons of carbon in 20 years-equivalent to putting around 7.4 million cars powered by fuel on the road for a year.
The brattle also estimated that Illinois’s gross domestic product will be lowered by $ 765 million annually -in which Clinton facility will stop operations.
Meta said it is also producing development in requests for proposals to identify other nuclear energy operators to help the firm meet AI’s goals and maintain it.
“(We) are in the final discussion with a short list of potential projects to meet our 1-4 Gawinatt target,” Meta said after announcement The initiative last December.
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