Google and Constellation to invest $4.3 billion in nuclear power upgrades

Google and Constellation Energy have announced an ambitious plan to uprate 11 nuclear power units, with Constellation investing $4.3 billion in the project. The agreement involves modernizing turbines, steam generators, and digital control systems across several plants, including 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, according to Constellation, though specific plant details are yet to be fully disclosed.

The partnership aligns with the Trump administration’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge and the Department of Energy’s UPRISE program, aiming to boost nuclear power output without increasing costs for consumers. Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of energy and power, highlighted the deal’s role in strengthening the PJM grid, which serves 67 million people, while supporting local jobs and energy affordability.

In addition to the nuclear power purchase agreement (PPA), the companies have entered into 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 to streamline engineering, regulatory work, and infrastructure protection. This collaboration is expected to sustain around 4,400 existing jobs and create 7,200 new construction jobs.

Constellation President and CEO Joe Dominguez emphasized the importance of preserving and expanding the existing nuclear fleet to meet growing energy demands affordably. He described the deal as a model for collaboration between tech companies and the energy industry, funded by private entities to deliver grid-wide benefits.