In a landmark move for U.S. energy and tech infrastructure, NextEra Energy and Google have announced a partnership to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear power plant in Iowa that was shut down in 2020.
The deal comes as the technology sector’s demand for electricity skyrockets, driven by the energy-intensive needs of artificial intelligence and data processing.
Restarting Nuclear for a Digital Future
Under the agreement, the Duane Arnold plant—Iowa’s only nuclear facility—is set to resume operations in early 2029, backed by a 25-year power purchase agreement in which Google will buy the majority of the electricity output from the 615-megawatt facility.
“Restarting Duane Arnold marks an important milestone,” said John Ketchum, CEO of NextEra Energy. “Our partnership with Google not only brings nuclear energy back to Iowa — it also accelerates the development of next-generation nuclear technology.”
In a post-market reaction, NextEra Energy shares rose over 1%, closing at $87.24.
Big Tech Bets on Nuclear
The deal is part of a broader trend where “hyperscalers” like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are securing long-term access to clean and stable power. These firms have recently signed agreements to buy electricity from advanced nuclear sources, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and fusion technology.
Google and NextEra also plan to collaborate on future nuclear tech development, highlighting their joint commitment to building a more resilient and carbon-free energy infrastructure.
“This partnership is a model for what’s needed nationwide — to power the AI economy while keeping energy affordable and reliable,” said Ruth Porat, President and CIO of Alphabet and Google.
Historic First for the US Nuclear Sector
If completed, the Duane Arnold project would mark a rare feat: no previously shut-down U.S. nuclear plant has ever been restarted. While other restart efforts are underway in Michigan and at Three Mile Island (Pennsylvania), Duane Arnold would be among the first to return to service—especially with backing from the tech sector.
As part of the deal, NextEra will acquire the remaining 30% stake in the facility from Central Iowa Power Cooperative and Corn Belt Power Cooperative, bringing its ownership to 100%.
