Microsoft’s AI energy needs to be supplied by US nuclear plant at controversial site

The nuclear plant is expected to restart operations by 2028, according to a 20-year agreement between Microsoft and Constellation Energy. For providing nuclear energy solely to the Redmond-based tech giant, the reactor is estimated to generate an additional 800 megawatts of electricity and add 3,400 jobs to the economy.

However, the nuclear energy deal is still pending approval from the country’s Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

What is the backstory?

The nuclear reactor being reopened is Unit 1, which was closed in 2019 due to economic reasons. It was Three Mile Island’s second unit that had malfunctioned and led to partial damage of the reactor core back in 1979.

“This agreement is a major milestone in Microsoft’s efforts to help decarbonise the grid in support of our commitment to become carbon negative […] Microsoft continues to collaborate with energy providers to develop carbon-free energy sources to help meet the grids’ capacity and reliability needs,” Bobby Hollis, the vice president of energy at Microsoft, was quoted as saying.

Microsoft’s new efforts come after its latest sustainability report showed a 30 per cent increase in carbon emissions between 2020 and 2023.