The Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant to Reopen in 2027: A Tech-Driven Turnaround
Anticipated Early Resumption of Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Operations
In a surprising twist of events, the Three Mile Island nuclear plant is expected to restart operations a year ahead of schedule, thanks to a significant deal with tech giants like Microsoft. Kate Smith brings us the latest from Middletown, Pennsylvania.
Constellation Energy Corporation's now-renamed Crane Clean Energy Center, formerly the Three Mile Island Unit 1 reactor, may roar back to life in 2027, a year earlier than the initial 2028 timeline. This early restart is due to the power purchase agreement with Microsoft that Constellation announced last September, an agreement that they claimed would pave the way for the plant's comeback.
Two towering structures, undergoing rehabilitation for nuclear power generation under Microsoft at the Crane Clean Energy Center, stand tall across the Susquehanna River.
The reactor, separate from the Three Mile Island Unit 2 reactor that suffered a partial meltdown in the late 1970s, has been idle since 2019. It was taken offline for economic reasons but is now poised for a second life.
*THE MICROSOFT DEAL TURNS PA'S NUCLEAR PLANT, SCENE OF '79 PARTIAL MELTDOWN, INTO AI-POWERED HUB*
The power purchase agreement with Microsoft represents a 20-year commitment. The electricity that Microsoft will buy from the nuclear plant will help fuel its data centers, Constellation confirmed.
Microsoft, along with other tech companies, have been interested in nuclear energy, be it from traditional reactors or future smaller advanced reactors, as they ramp up their artificial intelligence efforts.
*NUCLEAR ENERGY MAKES A COMEBACK IN THE STATES*
Both AI and the data centers they depend on demand vast amounts of electricity. The International Energy Administration predicted earlier this year that U.S. electricity consumption from AI and data centers will increase 130% from 2024 to 2030.
Constellation, who purchased TMI Unit 1 in 1999, expects the Crane Clean Energy Center to inject around 835 megawatts of electricity into the grid once it's back online.
The reactor's return is projected to create approximately 3,400 direct and indirect jobs and contribute a $16 billion boost to Pennsylvania's economy, according to an independent economic impact study.
Recent reports suggest that the quicker timeline at the Crane Clean Energy Center is due to Constellation's ability to fast-track the approval to connect the power generated at the facility to the electrical grid.
Earlier this month, Constellation also announced a separate agreement with Meta Platforms through which the tech giant will buy nuclear power from its Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois. That power purchase agreement will kick off in 2027, helping the Clinton nuclear reactor stay online after its Zero Emission Credit expires.
The nuclear power plant will also benefit from a 30 megawatt increase in output due to the deal with Meta, through nuclear uprates. Additionally, Constellation is exploring the possibility of extending the Clinton Energy Center's existing early site permit or "seeking a new construction permit" from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop an advanced nuclear reactor or small modular nuclear reactor at the facility in the future.
Approximately 18% of America's energy in 2024 originated from nuclear energy, according to the Department of Energy.
In essence, the resurgence of nuclear energy in the U.S., exemplified by initiatives at Three Mile Island and the Clinton plant, is driven by the tech sector’s increasing energy needs and commitment to sustainability. Major firms like Meta and Microsoft are securing long-term nuclear power deals to support AI growth and green energy transitions, thereby facilitating plant relicensing, operation extensions, and investment in nuclear infrastructure.
- The nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island, previously scenes of a partial meltdown in the late 1970s, is expected to transform into an AI-powered hub due to a power purchase agreement with tech giant Microsoft.
- This deal not only supports the reopening of the Three Mile Island plant, but also facilitates the expansion of Microsoft's artificial intelligence efforts, as they seek to meet the energy demands of their data centers.
