US restarts three nuclear reactors to supply power for AI data centers
Three US nuclear reactors are being brought back online after years of shutdown, adding about 2.25 GW of capacity that will help meet growing electricity demand from AI data centers.
Key points
- Palisades plant in Michigan will generate 800 MW by March 2027 after DOE loan funding
- Crane Clean Energy Center on Three Mile Island aims for 835 MW in 2027, backed by $1.6 B project cost and a $1 B DOE loan; Microsoft signed a 20‑year contract
- Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa, a NextEra‑Google partnership, targets 615 MW by 2029 with no cost to Iowa residential customers
The Palisades plant in Michigan, under Holtec Palisades, began loading fuel in August 2026 and aims to generate 800 MW by March 2027 after receiving a DOE loan from the 2024 nuclear investment. Constellation Energy’s Crane Clean Energy Center on Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania is refurbishing Unit 1, with a $1.6 billion project cost and a $1 billion DOE loan; Microsoft has signed a 20‑year power contract and the plant should deliver 835 MW in 2027. The Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa, a partnership between NextEra Energy and Google, targets 615 MW by 2029, with Google covering costs so Iowa residential customers are not charged.
Analysts note that Michigan may need 1.2‑2.3 GW for data centers by 2030, Pennsylvania 0.8‑3.4 GW, and Iowa 1.55‑2.8 GW, making the revived reactors a timely source of premium power for AI workloads.
US restarts three shut-down nuclear reactors to feed AI data centers
Tom's Hardware · 20 October 2026
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