Mehta confirmed plans to use nuclear power to fuel data centers in the United States. The company announced that it is accepting proposals from nuclear energy developers to work on the project, with the goal of adding between 1 and 4 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity “starting in the early 2030s.”
The company’s request for proposals states that Meta is seeking a partner with “either small modular reactor (SMR) or large reactor experience.” Axios reports that the company is “geographically agnostic” about the location of potential nuclear facilities. The company previously had plans to build a nuclear-powered data center, the Financial Times reported earlier this year, but those plans fell through after a rare species of honey bee was discovered near the site.
“Nuclear power will support the growing needs of the electrical grid that powers both data centers (the physical infrastructure on which Meta’s platform runs) as new innovations drive technological advances that impact the entire sector and support economic growth.” ) and surrounding communities,” the company said in a statement.
Meta is not the only big tech company looking to nuclear power to further its AI ambitions. Google recently announced a deal to build multiple nuclear reactors in the United States, with the goal of adding 500 megawatts of nuclear power from SMRs. Microsoft also said it wants to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear power plant this year to accelerate AI development.
