DOE backs planned restart of Iowa nuclear plant for Google AI data centres

NextEra Energy has secured a reported US$1.9 billion loan from the US Department of Energy to support the planned restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa.

The 615-megawatt nuclear facility closed after storm damage in August 2020. NextEra is targeting a return to operations by 2029, although the project remains subject to proceeding and could be delayed.

Google is expected to purchase the plant’s electricity for its artificial-intelligence data centres. The arrangement comes as Google and other data-centre operators seek additional power to support expanding AI infrastructure.

NextEra has said the project could create thousands of direct and indirect jobs and improve local grid reliability. Those projections have not been independently verified in the supplied material.

The Department of Energy has plans to support the restart of three mothballed power plants. Nuclear generation has low operational emissions, but the technology also produces radioactive waste, and the loan’s terms, conditions and disbursement details were not provided.