Google to Bring Shuttered Nuclear Power Plant Back from the Dead

Google partners with NextEra Energy to revive Iowa’s closed Duane Arnold nuclear power plant, powering data centers with zero-carbon energy by 2029.
Matilda
Google to Bring Shuttered Nuclear Power Plant Back from the Dead
Why Is Google Reviving a Shuttered Nuclear Power Plant? Google’s latest clean energy move has stunned the tech and energy industries alike. The company announced a partnership with NextEra Energy to bring Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center —a nuclear plant shut down in 2020—back online. The move is part of Google’s broader mission to power its global data center network with zero-carbon energy . This bold collaboration signals a growing trend among tech giants to embrace nuclear power as a sustainable, scalable energy source. Image Credits:U.S. Department of Energy How Will Google and NextEra Reopen the Iowa Plant? The Duane Arnold Energy Center, once generating 601 megawatts , was shut down after a 2020 derecho storm caused severe damage. Under this new partnership, NextEra will lead the plant’s renovation , while Google commits to purchasing the majority of its output for 25 years . Once operational in 2029 , the refurbished plant is expected to produce an additional 14 megawatts, delivering c…