NextEra Energy has received a $1.9 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center, a 615-megawatt nuclear power plant located in Linn County, Iowa. The facility, which will be the first nuclear plant to restart under the DOE’s initiative, is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The power generated at the plant will be used by Google to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, while also helping to improve the reliability of the local electricity grid. The DOE has outlined plans to revive three previously shut-down power plants to support the growing energy needs of AI data centers and the broader grid. The Duane Arnold Energy Center had a dramatic end to its operational life. A tropical storm that struck Iowa on August 10, 2020, with wind gusts up to 140 mph, severely damaged the plant’s cooling towers, effectively ending its operations. The plant was already scheduled for decommissioning, but recent demand for clean energy to power AI data centers has given it a second chance. NextEra Energy plans to restart the plant by 2029, bringing back a significant source of low-carbon electricity to the region. Google has long committed to offsetting its energy consumption with renewable and green energy sources, a goal it achieved in 2018. However, in recent years, the company has also relied on energy from natural gas plants, such as one in Texas that powers one of its data centers. Similarly, other major tech companies like Tesla and Meta have used energy from the broader grid, which may include fossil fuels, or have even installed their own natural gas generators. Google’s agreement to use nuclear power from the Duane Arnold plant could mark a significant shift toward cleaner energy for the company’s operations. While nuclear power produces no carbon emissions during operation, it does generate nuclear waste, which requires careful long-term management. The Duane Arnold project highlights the growing role of nuclear energy in meeting the high energy demands of AI and data centers, which require vast amounts of electricity. The DOE’s support for restarting the plant reflects a broader strategy to leverage existing infrastructure to meet these needs while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.