Core Insights - Google's data centers have seen a dramatic increase in electricity consumption, more than doubling from 14.4 million megawatt-hours in 2020 to 30.8 million megawatt-hours in 2024, indicating a growth of over 113% in just four years [1][2][5] - Data centers are responsible for 95.8% of Google's total electricity usage, highlighting the significant impact of this segment on the company's overall energy consumption [2] - The company's power usage effectiveness (PUE) has improved only marginally over the past decade, reaching 1.09 in 2024, suggesting that further efficiency gains may be challenging to achieve [6] Energy Strategy - Google is committed to using only carbon-free electricity sources, which has led to substantial investments in various energy technologies, including geothermal, nuclear fission, and fusion [7][10][15] - The company has made significant renewable energy purchases, including 600 megawatts of solar capacity in South Carolina and 700 megawatts in Oklahoma, as part of a broader $20 billion investment in carbon-free power plants [11][12] - Currently, about 66% of Google's data center electricity consumption is matched to the hour with carbon-free sources, but there are regional disparities, with Latin America achieving 92% while the Middle East and Africa only reach 5% [14]

Core Viewpoint - Meta is investing billions of dollars to purchase clean energy attributes from Constellation Energy's Clinton Clean Energy Center, ensuring the nuclear power plant's operation through 2047, which reflects a growing trend among tech companies to support the nuclear industry for sustainable energy solutions [1][4][5]. Group 1: Deal Details - Meta will buy all clean energy attributes from the 1.1 gigawatt Clinton Clean Energy Center starting in June 2027 [1]. - The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is described as a multi-billion-dollar agreement that will assist Constellation in relicensing the plant and securing a customer for the license duration [3]. - The deal is seen as a way to prevent the potential closure of the Clinton reactor, which faced competition from cheaper energy sources [5]. Group 2: Industry Context - The nuclear power industry has gained renewed interest from big tech companies, including Meta, due to the increasing demand for energy driven by AI and cloud computing [4]. - Prior to this deal, the Clinton reactor was at risk of shutdown due to competition from natural gas, but legislative subsidies allowed it to remain operational [5]. - Meta has shown a strong interest in nuclear energy, soliciting proposals for new nuclear plants capable of generating between 1 to 4 gigawatts, receiving over 50 submissions from various states [7]. Group 3: Strategic Implications - The partnership with Meta allows Constellation to replace the expiring zero-emission credit program, ensuring the long-term operation of the Clinton plant without relying on ratepayer support [7]. - This deal follows a similar agreement between Constellation and Microsoft, indicating a trend of tech companies becoming patrons of nuclear energy [8].