Google Funds Georgia Nuclear Plant Upgrades Amid Data Center Demand

Google has agreed to fund capacity increases at two nuclear plants in Georgia, operated by Southern Co. subsidiary Georgia Power. The deal will add about 96 megawatts of new power supplies amid growing electricity demand driven by data centers.

The uprates at Vogtle and Hatch nuclear plants will be funded via a new tariff, according to Alphabet's Google. An uprate is a way of expanding power output from a reactor by replacing some mechanical gear.

This agreement comes as part of growing scrutiny over who should pay for additional power infrastructure needed to accommodate soaring energy demand. The deal with Google will help shield residential and other industrial customers from the cost of the upgrades, Georgia Power said.