Nuclear Energy Revival
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Oklo and Vistra Shares Surge as Meta Turns to Nuclear Power for AI
Yahoo Finance· 2026-01-09 15:06
Core Insights - Meta Platforms Inc. has agreed to purchase nuclear power from Oklo Inc. and Vistra Corp. to support its artificial intelligence data centers, leading to significant stock price increases for both companies [1][3] Company Summary - Oklo shares surged by as much as 19%, while Vistra shares increased by up to 16% following the announcement [1] - The partnership includes a 20-year power purchase agreement with Vistra and a deal with Oklo to advance small modular reactor development, which has not yet been commercialized [3] - Oklo's stock has seen a remarkable increase of over 200% in 2025, while Vistra's shares gained 17% in 2025 after a rise of over 200% in 2024 [4] Industry Summary - The nuclear power industry is experiencing a revival, driven by tech companies' demand for new energy sources to power their expanding data centers [2][3] - The industry had faced challenges with rising costs and reactor shutdowns, but the recent developments have positively impacted stock prices and investor sentiment [2][4] - Analysts view the commitment from major tech firms as a significant endorsement for the nuclear energy sector, which is crucial for addressing energy supply concerns amid rising energy bills for households and businesses [2]
Google to buy power from NextEra nuclear plant being revived
TechXplore· 2025-10-28 13:10
Core Insights - NextEra Energy Inc. plans to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear power plant in Iowa to supply electricity to Google data centers, with power delivery expected to begin by 2029 [2][5] - The plant, which has a capacity of 615 megawatts, was shut down in 2020, prior to the surge in demand for electricity driven by the AI boom [2][3] - The revival of mothballed nuclear facilities is seen as a quicker solution to meet the increasing electricity demands of data centers, particularly for clean and reliable power sources [3] Company Developments - NextEra has entered into a 25-year agreement to sell electricity from the Duane Arnold plant to Google and is also buying out the plant's minority owners [5] - The company is exploring further nuclear generation development in collaboration with Google, having already completed nearly three gigawatts of energy projects with them across the U.S. [6] - Following the announcement, NextEra's stock gained as much as 3.5% in after-hours trading [6] Industry Trends - The energy industry is experiencing significant changes due to the high electricity demands from tech companies, particularly hyperscalers, who favor nuclear energy for its clean and consistent power supply [2][3] - Other companies, such as Constellation Energy Corp. and Holtec International, are also working on reviving nuclear reactors to meet energy demands, indicating a broader trend towards utilizing existing nuclear infrastructure [4]