NextEra Energy and Google are partnering to revive a shuttered nuclear plant in Iowa, a move signaling renewedโฃ investment in nuclearโฃ power as a โcarbon-freeโฃ energy source. The companies announced plans โขTuesday to restartโข the Duane arnold Energy Centre โnear Palo, iowa, with Google committing to โpurchase the facility’s output.
The agreement aims to bringโค theโ 615-megawatt nuclear โplant backโ online by 2030, providing โclean energy โฃto power Google’s โdata centers and operations. Theโ Duaneโ Arnold plant was previouslyโ owned by Central Iowa Power Cooperative butโข ceased operations in 2020, citing economic challenges. This collaboration represents a novelโฃ approach to nuclear plant ownership and operation,with NextEra taking on the technical aspectsโฃ while google provides long-term financial backing through a โpower purchase agreement. The project underscores the growing demand for around-the-clock, carbon-free electricity and theโ potential for nuclear energy to playโ aโฃ key roleโค in decarbonizing the grid.
NextEra Energy, a leading clean energy company,โฃ will oversee the plant’s refurbishment and operation, leveragingโข its expertise in โฃnuclearโ power management. Googleโข will purchase the energy generated by the plant, contributingโ to its goal โof operating on 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030. The financialโ details of the agreement were not disclosed.
“This is aโฃ unique opportunity to โฃbring a โคvaluable carbon-free resource backโค online,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. “We’re โexcited to partner with Google to demonstrate the potential for nuclear energy to contribute to a clean energy future.”
Google’s commitment to purchasing the plant’s output โขprovides theโ financial certainty needed to justify the significant โขinvestment required โคto restartโ the facility. The project is expected to createโค hundreds of jobs during the refurbishment process and provide aโค stable source โof โคcleanโฃ energy for the region.
The restart of โขDuane Arnold comes as the Biden administration promotes nuclear energy as a key component ofโข its climate agenda, offering tax โcredits and other incentives to support the industry.The project could serve as aโค model forโ revitalizing โคother retired nuclear plants across the โฃcountry.
