NextEra Energy and Google Announce New Collaboration to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Deployment in the U.S.

Core Insights - NextEra Energy and Google have announced a partnership to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center, Iowa's only nuclear facility, to provide clean, reliable energy for Google's AI and cloud infrastructure [2][3][4] - The collaboration includes a 25-year power purchase agreement where Google will buy carbon-free energy from the 615-MW plant, expected to be operational by Q1 2029 [3][6] - The project is projected to create approximately 400 direct jobs and deliver over $9 billion in economic benefits to Iowa [6][11] Company Agreements - Google will purchase power from the Duane Arnold Energy Center, which will help meet its growing energy demands while enhancing local grid reliability [2][4] - Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) will also purchase the remaining output from the plant under the same terms as Google, with NextEra Energy acquiring CIPCO's 30% interest to own 100% of the plant [3][6] - The partnership aims to explore the development of new nuclear generation in the U.S. to address increasing electricity needs [5] Economic Impact - The recommissioning of Duane Arnold is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including more than $340 million in annual economic output during operations [11] - Local earnings during construction are projected to exceed $89 million, with long-term earnings estimated at over $127 million [11] - The project is anticipated to create more than 1,600 jobs during construction and approximately 400 direct, full-time jobs during operations [11] Strategic Importance - The restart of Duane Arnold is seen as a milestone for NextEra Energy, reinforcing its commitment to nuclear energy and advanced generation technologies [5][6] - The collaboration is positioned as a model for future investments needed to build energy capacity and deliver reliable, clean power across the U.S. [5][6] - Iowa's leadership in powering America's AI infrastructure is emphasized, highlighting the importance of reliable, clean energy for emerging technologies [9]