Three reactors, 2.25 GW of capacity
Three US nuclear reactors that have been offline for years are being restarted, expected to return a combined 2.25 GW to the grid. The common driver is the surging electricity demand of AI data centers.
The projects and their customers
- Palisades (Michigan): Set to become the first reactor restarted after decommissioning had already begun. Fuel was loaded in August 2026, with 800 MW expected around March 2027. Operator Holtec Palisades took a loan from the US Department of Energy.
- Crane Clean Energy Center (Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania): Unit 1 is being refurbished. Constellation Energy expects to spend $1.6 billion in total and took a $1 billion DOE loan in 2025. Microsoft is the main customer under a 20-year contract, with 835 MW projected in 2027.
- Duane Arnold (Iowa): A NextEra Energy and Google collaboration, with 615 MW expected to come online in 2029.
Why now
The reactors were previously shut down because labor and maintenance costs made nuclear power pricier than alternatives. The economics of power have shifted, and grid connections have become a primary blocker for data center buildouts. Operators appear willing to pay a premium as long as they get power now rather than decades from now.
Demand forecasts
Michigan is projected to need 1.2-2.3 GW for data centers alone around 2030, Pennsylvania 0.8-3.4 GW and Iowa 1.55-2.8 GW. These ranges are loose, covering planned projects that may not be built and timelines that could slip.
