Google backs nuclear revival with plan to restart Duane Arnold plant
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Google is placing a long-term energy bet on a power source many had written off. In October, the company announced it will purchase low-carbon electricity from a revived nuclear plant in Iowa to help meet the growing energy demands of its data centers.
The move is part of a 25-year agreement with NextEra Energy to supply electricity from the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a nuclear plant that shut down in 2020. The deal marks a rare effort to restart a previously closed nuclear facility, a task never completed in the United States.
With artificial intelligence and cloud computing accelerating electricity consumption, tech companies are under pressure to find reliable, low-carbon energy solutions. For Google, turning to nuclear represents a shift away from intermittent renewables and toward a more stable power mix. The plant is expected to return online by early 2029, generating more than 600 megawatts of electricity in support of Google’s regional operations.
A dormant plant finds new relevance in the digital age
Located near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the Duane Arnold plant began operating in 1975. It ran for 45 years before being decommissioned following a severe derecho storm and continued economic pressure. The plant was officially shut down in late 2020, with fuel removed and demolition slated.
Now, mounting energy needs and changing attitudes about nuclear power have altered the equation. NextEra’s plan to restart Duane Arnold is both a technical and regulatory challenge. It will require infrastructure investment, new licenses, and full safety inspections.
Restarting a nuclear plant in the US is unprecedented. To date, no facility that has closed has been brought back online, making this project a key test for the nuclear sector.
Nuclear power’s clean energy comeback
Nuclear power’s public image has long been defined by risk and cost. But with more than 90 reactors still running and nuclear energy providing about 19 percent of US electricity, it remains a central part of the national power mix.
Concerns over grid stability and rising energy demands have reopened interest in nuclear. Unlike wind or solar, nuclear plants offer continuous electricity without carbon emissions. That consistency is becoming increasingly important for companies trying to maintain around-the-clock digital services.
Data centers are central to the shift. Research suggests that electricity use from AI applications could double by the end of the decade. As a result, utilities and tech companies are exploring new ways to meet that demand. Nuclear, once considered too expensive or politically risky, is re-emerging as a viable option.
What Google gains: always-on, low-carbon energy
For Google, the Duane Arnold deal supports more than just operations in the Midwest. It fits into the company’s broader energy strategy, which includes running on low-carbon electricity 24 hours a day by 2030. That goal cannot be met through solar and wind alone.
While renewables are part of the solution, they require overbuilding and battery storage to deliver power at all hours. Nuclear helps bridge that gap by offering stable supply without requiring fossil fuel backup.
The project also aligns with Google’s environmental targets and may help shape future policy on nuclear expansion. As one of the first tech companies to support a nuclear restart, Google may influence how regulators, investors, and peer companies view the sector.
Bringing a dormant nuclear plant back online involves layers of scrutiny. The project will undergo review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and must meet current safety codes, not those in place during its original design.
Public opinion is gradually warming. Surveys show that about 60 percent of Americans support more nuclear energy, up from 43 percent in 2020. Still, opposition exists, particularly in communities near shuttered plants.
NextEra expects the restart to cost about $1.6 billion, with permitting and construction expected to take several years. The 2029 timeline reflects the complexity of the undertaking, from equipment upgrades to staffing and licensing.
Other sites may not have the economic or political alignment that made this deal possible. Yet if successful, the Duane Arnold restart could become a model for other projects that combine corporate investment, clean energy goals, and nuclear infrastructure.
Sources:
Wall Street Journal
