Key Points
- NextEra Energy is considering an expansion of its nuclear fleet to power AI data centers.
- The company is in talks to power an additional 9 gigawatts of data centers.
- The move is a response to the soaring electricity demand from the AI boom.
- NextEra has already announced it will restart a nuclear plant in Iowa to serve Google.
The AI boom’s insatiable hunger for electricity is leading one of the nation’s largest power providers to consider a major expansion of its nuclear fleet. NextEra Energy said on Tuesday that it is in advanced discussions to power an additional 9 gigawatts of data centers and is looking at nuclear energy as a key part of the solution.
The rapid growth of data centers is pushing U.S. power demand to record highs, and it’s forcing a rethink of the country’s energy strategy. Big Tech companies are now striking historic deals with electric utilities, and that includes the revival of several nuclear power plants that had been shut down.
NextEra is already a part of this trend. Last year, the company announced it would restart its Duane Arnold nuclear power station in Iowa specifically to serve Google’s data centers.
Now, it’s looking to go even further. The company said it has the ability to add 6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity at its existing nuclear sites. It is also considering building brand-new, advanced nuclear power plants from the ground up.
The news came as NextEra reported a strong fourth quarter, with its profit narrowly beating Wall Street’s estimates. The company’s regulated utility in Florida is seeing a surge in demand, with about 20 gigawatts of data center customers interested in connecting to its system. Nearly half of those are in advanced talks and could come online by 2028.
NextEra’s renewable energy arm also had a record year, adding 13.5 gigawatts of new generation and battery storage projects to its backlog.
With power consumption in the U.S. expected to hit new all-time highs in 2026, it’s clear that the country is going to need a lot more electricity. For NextEra, and for the AI industry, it seems that nuclear power is increasingly being seen as a key part of the answer.
