Google Teams Up with Nuclear Power for AI-Friendly Energy Upgrade

The growing demand for energy to power artificial intelligence (AI) data centers has led Alphabet's Google to ink an agreement with Georgia Power, a utility covering most of Georgia, to upgrade two existing nuclear plants. The project aims to add 96 megawatts of new capacity to the electricity grid, which could power tens of thousands of homes.

The move is part of a larger effort by AI companies to address concerns about the strain data centers place on local power grids and water systems. Residents in several communities across the country have successfully lobbied to cancel or delay projects due to fears about increased utility bills and pollution.

Nuclear power, once considered expensive, has become more competitive as U.S. electricity demand outstrips supply. The key is that it needs to be an existing nuclear plant, as the massive start-up cost of a new reactor remains prohibitive. Google will pay for 'uprates' at Georgia Power's Vogtle and Hatch nuclear plants.