Google and Constellation Partner on $4.3 Billion Nuclear Uprate Plan

Google and Constellation Energy have announced an ambitious plan to uprate 11 nuclear power units, with Constellation investing over $4.3 billion in the project. The partnership includes modernizing turbines, steam generators, and digital control systems at facilities such as Braidwood, Byron, LaSalle, and Quad Cities in Illinois, Limerick in Pennsylvania, and Salem in New Jersey. The first uprate is expected to be completed by 2028, aligning with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's timeline for future uprate applications.

The agreement aligns with the Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the Department of Energy’s UPRISE program, aiming to increase power output from existing nuclear facilities without passing costs on to customers. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of energy and power, emphasized the commitment to responsible energy growth, highlighting the agreement's role in strengthening the PJM grid, which serves 67 million people.

In addition to the nuclear PPA, the two companies entered a 15-year energy supply agreement for 2,700 MW of power within the PJM region. They also expanded a five-year technology agreement, integrating Google’s cloud and artificial intelligence services, including Gemini Enterprise agentic workflows, to streamline engineering and regulatory work on uprates. This collaboration is expected to sustain roughly 4,400 existing jobs and create another 7,200 new construction jobs.

Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez stressed the importance of preserving and expanding the output of the existing nuclear fleet to meet the nation’s growing energy needs while keeping costs affordable. He noted that this long-term clean energy collaboration with Google could serve as a model for how technology companies and the energy industry can work together to responsibly develop the digital economy and invest in energy infrastructure.