Prime Highlights:
- Google and NextEra Energy will restart Iowa’s only nuclear power plant, the Duane Arnold Energy Center, by 2029 to provide clean, carbon-free electricity.
- The project is expected to create new jobs and strengthen Iowa’s energy supply, supporting local homes and businesses.
Key Facts:
- The Duane Arnold Energy Center, located in Linn County, was closed in 2020 after facing competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources.
- Google has invested over $6.8 billion in Iowa’s data centers, highlighting its long-term commitment to the state’s clean energy and economic growth.
Background:
Google and NextEra Energy have announced plans to restart Iowa’s only nuclear power plant, the Duane Arnold Energy Center, by 2029. The project will provide clean, carbon-free electricity to meet the growing energy needs of data centers.
The Duane Arnold plant in Linn County was shut down in 2020 after struggling to compete with natural gas and other renewable power sources. Its revival marks a turning point for America’s nuclear sector as energy use across the country continues to rise. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, national electricity consumption reached record highs in 2024, largely fueled by AI-driven data operations.
Once the plant starts running, Google will buy electricity from the 615-megawatt facility to power its growing data operations in Iowa. The Central Iowa Power Cooperative will also purchase any extra electricity produced, helping to make the state’s power grid stronger and more reliable.
Executives from both companies described the project as a blueprint for future clean energy collaboration between technology and utility providers. Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said the partnership demonstrates the type of investments needed to “build capacity, deliver clean and reliable power, and create jobs that will drive the AI economy.”
This move follows a growing trend among tech giants turning to nuclear power to support their operations. Microsoft recently signed a deal with Constellation Energy, while Oracle is developing a data center powered by small modular reactors.
State Senator Charlie McClintock called it “a big win for Linn County and the whole state,” adding that it will help provide steady power for homes and businesses.
With Google investing over $6.8 billion in Iowa data centers, reopening the Duane Arnold Energy Center marks an important step toward clean energy and local economic growth.
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