Meta signs nuclear energy deals to power Prometheus AI supercluster

Meta has made significant strides in its quest to power its ambitious AI projects by forging agreements with three nuclear power providers. This announcement came on Friday and includes partnerships with Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo, with the latter having ties to OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman. These agreements are pivotal for Meta's Prometheus supercluster, a high-performance computing system being developed at a data center in New Albany, Ohio. While financial details were not disclosed, the company anticipates that these collaborations will contribute a substantial 6.6 gigawatts of power by 2035, outpacing the energy needs of New Hampshire. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's CEO, first unveiled Prometheus in July, emphasizing its crucial role in the company’s advanced artificial intelligence initiatives. The expectation is for Prometheus to become operational by 2026. Joel Kaplan, Meta's policy chief, highlighted the importance of modern data centers and AI infrastructure in maintaining the U.S.'s competitive edge in the global AI arena. As part of its energy strategy, Meta plans to invest in Vistra's nuclear facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania, aiming to enhance both their lifespan and output. The ongoing projects with TerraPower and Oklo are still in development stages, but Meta's agreements are projected to generate thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions in the long run. These partnerships reflect a broader trend among tech giants, with Meta, Amazon, and Google collectively pledging in March to triple global nuclear energy production by 2050. In a related move, Meta secured a 20-year agreement with Constellation Energy to procure nuclear power from the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, set to kick off in 2027. Additionally, the collaboration with TerraPower may allow Meta to access energy from up to six more nuclear projects scheduled for completion by 2035. Meanwhile, Oklo is working on its advanced nuclear technology campus, expected to launch by 2030 in Pike County, Ohio. Notably, Altman has a significant stake in Oklo, valued at approximately $650 million, reflecting his commitment to the company’s growth and its mission to compete in the energy sector. As the race for AI supremacy continues, these developments underscore Meta's strategic approach to securing the necessary energy resources to fuel its future innovations.