In a remarkable turnaround story that's great news for both clean energy and local communities, Vistra has announced a 20-year partnership with Meta that will not only keep three nuclear power plants running but actually expand their capacity, creating what will be the largest nuclear uprates supported by a corporate customer in United States history.

The agreement covers the Perry and Davis-Besse plants in Ohio and the Beaver Valley plant in Pennsylvania, providing more than 2,600 megawatts of zero-carbon energy to support Meta's operations while powering the regional grid. What makes this especially heartwarming is that as recently as 2020, these same plants were on a path to retirement, which would have meant lost jobs and reduced clean energy capacity for the region.

Instead, thanks to Vistra's vision when acquiring the plants in 2023 and now Meta's commitment, these facilities are getting a new lease on life. The partnership includes 2,176 MW from existing operations plus an impressive 433 MW of new capacity through equipment upgrades, meaning more clean energy will actually be added to the grid.

"When we signed a deal to acquire these plants in 2023, Vistra saw their tremendous contribution to the reliability of the grid, to the stability of the region, to their local communities, and to the people who work there," said Stacey Doré, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer of Vistra. The company's faith in these assets is now paying dividends for everyone involved.

Meta's investment stems from its commitment to powering artificial intelligence and operations with clean, reliable energy. "By supporting nuclear power, we ensure that our operations, and the communities we serve, benefit from energy solutions that drive both technological progress and economic growth," explained Urvi Parekh, Head of Global Energy at Meta.

The Ripple Effect

The positive impact of this partnership extends far beyond kilowatts and megawatts. These three plants have been economic engines for their local communities since construction, and this agreement ensures that continues for decades to come. The facilities provide thousands of permanent, well-paying jobs and contribute tens of millions of dollars in state and local taxes annually.

Over the approximately nine years of uprate projects, around 3,000 additional project-related jobs across engineering, construction, and planned outage work are expected. That's 3,000 opportunities for families in Ohio and Pennsylvania, plus the economic multiplier effect as those workers spend their earnings locally.

The partnership also provides Vistra with the certainty needed to pursue subsequent license renewals for all three plants, which would extend their operations an additional 20 years beyond their current licenses. Beaver Valley Unit 1 is currently licensed through 2036, Davis-Besse through 2037, Perry through 2046, and Beaver Valley Unit 2 through 2047.

Meta's purchases under the agreements will begin in late 2026, with additional capacity coming online through 2034, when the full 2,609 MW of carbon-free power will be serving the grid. It's a win for climate goals, a win for energy reliability, a win for local economies, and a win for the dedicated employees who keep these facilities running safely day after day.