Google-Backed Nuclear Plant Gets $1.9 Billion Boost from US Energy Department

The US Department of Energy has approved a $1.9 billion loan to NextEra Energy to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa. The nuclear plant operated for over 45 years before shutting down in 2020 due to storm damage.

Google partnered with NextEra last year to explore deploying more nuclear power around the country. Under their agreement, Google will buy power from the plant and help make the investment financially viable.

The Energy Department says Duane Arnold will add 615 megawatts of power to the grid once restarted, enough to power nearly 500,000 homes. The project is expected to drive down electricity costs and support Google's growing cloud and AI infrastructure in Iowa.