US restarts three nuclear reactors to supply data centers
The 2.25 GW return adds new power for AI-linked data demand, with one plant already moving toward 2027 output.
Three long-idled U.S. nuclear plants are being brought back online to supply power for data centers, adding a combined 2.25 GW to the grid. The restart lineup includes Palisades in Michigan, Crane Clean Energy Center at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania, and Duane Arnold in Iowa, with each project tied to a major tech customer or infrastructure need. Palisades is furthest along, with fuel loading reported for August 2026 and 800 MW expected around March 2027, while Crane is slated for 835 MW in 2027 and has a 20-year Microsoft contract. Duane Arnold is a NextEra Energy and Google project projected to deliver 615 MW in 2029, and its CEO said residential customers in Iowa will not pay the costs.
Why it matters
For data centers, the restarts add firm power from three sites that have been idle for years. For the companies tied to them, the projects turn on long lead times, large capital outlays and multi-year supply commitments, with output arriving in stages rather than all at once.
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Sources
- Tom's Hardware