Meta Partners With Bill Gates Startup to Power AI With Clean Nuclear Energy

Meta is making a massive bet on clean energy that could reshape how technology companies power the future. The social media and AI giant has partnered with three nuclear energy providers to build reactors that will generate 6.6 gigawatts of electricity by 2035. That's enough clean power to run all of Ireland.

The partnerships include TerraPower, a nuclear innovation company backed by Bill Gates, along with Oklo (supported by OpenAI's Sam Altman) and energy provider Vistra. Together, they'll construct new nuclear reactors specifically designed to meet Meta's growing energy needs as the company expands its artificial intelligence capabilities.

The first of these cutting-edge reactors could begin producing power as early as 2030. Meta's investments will support Prometheus, a massive supercomputing system set to launch in New Albany, Ohio, later this year. It's the first of several planned AI superclusters that will require enormous amounts of reliable, carbon-free electricity.

This isn't Meta's first step into nuclear energy. The company previously signed an agreement with Constellation Energy to restart an aging nuclear power plant, demonstrating its commitment to this clean energy source. Nuclear power produces zero carbon emissions during operation and runs continuously, unlike solar or wind power that depends on weather conditions.

The Ripple Effect

Meta's investment could spark a renaissance in American nuclear energy development. As one of the largest corporate purchasers of nuclear power in U.S. history, Meta is proving that private companies can drive innovation in clean energy infrastructure.

The company has also made a crucial promise: they'll pay the full costs for energy consumed by their data centers, ensuring that everyday consumers won't see higher electricity bills because of Meta's energy needs. This commitment addresses one of the biggest concerns communities have when large tech facilities move into their areas.

Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, emphasized that these investments serve a larger purpose beyond just powering data centers. "State-of-the-art data centers and AI infrastructure are essential to securing America's position as a global leader in AI," he said.

The timing couldn't be more significant. As AI technology advances rapidly, the energy required to train and run these systems has skyrocketed. Many tech companies have struggled to balance their climate commitments with their growing power demands. Meta's nuclear strategy offers a potential solution: massive amounts of reliable, clean electricity that doesn't contribute to climate change.

The partnerships also bring together some of the most recognizable names in technology and energy innovation. Bill Gates has long championed nuclear energy as essential for fighting climate change, while Sam Altman has invested in next-generation reactor designs through Oklo.

By 2035, these reactors will be feeding clean electricity into the grid, powering not just artificial intelligence but demonstrating that American innovation can tackle both technological advancement and environmental responsibility simultaneously. It's a vision where the future doesn't have to choose between progress and the planet.