Microsoft Secures Three Mile Island Restart to Power AI Data Centers
Microsoft signed a deal to restart Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant, securing long-term carbon-free power for its data centers. The move responds to AI-driven energy demand that has stretched grid capacity and aligns with U.S. goals to have 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030.
1. Microsoft’s Three Mile Island Agreement
Microsoft signed a memorandum to facilitate the restart of Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant, locking in multi-decade carbon-free power supply for its regional data centers. The plant, closed since 2019, is expected to resume operations in the late 2020s pending regulatory approvals.
2. Energy Constraints Fuel Corporate Nuclear Deals
AI data center expansion has overloaded grid connection queues and left gas turbine installations backlogged, prompting major cloud providers to secure dedicated nuclear generation. Microsoft’s agreement complements similar deals by other tech firms seeking reliable, low-carbon electricity.
3. Federal Nuclear Expansion Goals
The U.S. administration is targeting 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030 and aims to triple national nuclear capacity to 300 GW by 2050. Regulatory streamlining and domestic fuel chain rebuilding are designed to support private-sector power purchase agreements.