Google's 3.6 GW Constellation deal — only a quarter is new nuclear
On October 6, 2026, Google agreed to buy 3,590 MW (about 3.6 GW) of electricity from Constellation Energy in PJM, the largest U.S. power grid. Only 890 MW, about a quarter, is new nuclear output, and it comes not from new reactors but from 'uprates' that raise the output of 11 existing reactors in Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey under a 20-year contract, with first power expected in 2028. The remaining 2,700 MW is a long-term supply agreement not tied to any specific plant. Both companies called the deal a response to PJM's proposal that large new data centers bring their own power or risk being cut off at peak demand
The three lines
- Size — 3,590 MW total: 890 MW of nuclear uprates (20 years) plus 2,700 MW of source-agnostic supply
- How — no new reactors; 11 existing units upgraded, $4.3B+ investment, first power in 2028
- Why — PJM wants new data centers to bring their own power or face curtailment at peak
Key questions
- What is in the Google Constellation deal
- **Two contracts add up to 3.6 GW.** | Contract | Size | Term | Nature | |---|---|---|---| | Nuclear PPA | 890 MW | 20 years | Uprates at 11 existing reactors | | Supply agreement | 2,700 MW | Long-term (15 years per some reports) | Not tied to any plant | | Total | 3,590 MW | — | ~25% new nuclear |
- What is a nuclear uprate
- **Getting more power out of a reactor that already exists.** | Method | Detail | |---|---| | Measurement | Better instruments allow higher output within safety margins | | Equipment | New turbines, generators, feedwater pumps | | Approval | NRC license amendment for each reactor | | Advantage | Adds power in years, without a new site |
- Why are data centers raising electricity costs
- **The grid's price for guaranteeing supply has soared.** | Item | Detail | |---|---| | PJM capacity price | Up more than elevenfold in two years (reported) | | Demand growth | Almost all of PJM's expected growth this decade is data centers | | Rule change | 50 MW+ new data centers may need their own supply | | Households | Capacity costs can flow into retail bills |
"Google secures 3.6 GW of nuclear" sounds like three or four new reactors. It isn't. On October 6, 2026, Google signed power contracts totaling 3,590 MW with Constellation Energy, America's largest nuclear operator. Only 890 MW — about a quarter — is new nuclear output. The rest is long-term supply not tied to any plant. The structure shows the AI power problem shifting from where electricity is made to whether the grid can carry it.
1. Two contracts, one headline
| Nuclear PPA | Supply agreement | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 890 MW | 2,700 MW |
| Term | 20 years | Long-term (15 years per DCD) |
| Source | Uprates at 11 existing reactors | Not tied to a source |
| New capacity | Yes (uprates) | No |
| Region | PJM (13 states, mid-Atlantic and Midwest) | PJM |
The nuclear portion comes from uprates: better instrumentation and new turbines, generators and pumps let an existing reactor produce more. No new site or decade-long build is needed, but each reactor needs a license amendment from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
| Uprate sites (6 sites, 11 units) | State |
|---|---|
| Braidwood, Byron, LaSalle, Quad Cities | Illinois |
| Limerick | Pennsylvania |
| Salem (Constellation owns 43%) | New Jersey |
| Timeline and scale | Detail |
|---|---|
| Constellation investment | $4.3 billion+ |
| First uprated power | 2028 |
| Full program | End of 2032 |
| Jobs | ~4,400 sustained, ~7,200 construction |
| Side deal | Constellation's Google Cloud contract extended five years |
2. Why now: PJM's "bring your own power"
Both companies pointed to a proposal from PJM's management: new data centers of 50 MW or more must bring their own supply or risk being remotely cut off at peak demand. It was filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on August 13 and awaits approval; it could apply as early as June 2027.
| Indicator | Detail (as reported) |
|---|---|
| Expected demand growth in PJM this decade | Almost entirely data centers |
| Price paid to guarantee supply (capacity) | Up more than elevenfold in two years |
| Who pays | Capacity costs can reach household bills |
So the 2,700 MW contract is less "nuclear power" than a purchased right not to be curtailed. Google's Amanda Peterson Corio said the company is "committed to meeting our growth responsibly by actively investing in clean, reliable power."
3. Where it fits among Big Tech nuclear deals
| Deal | Approach |
|---|---|
| Microsoft–Constellation | Restarting a Three Mile Island reactor |
| Google–NextEra | Restarting the Duane Arnold plant in Iowa |
| Google–Constellation (Oct 6) | Uprates at 11 units + grid supply |
Google says its restart and uprate deals now exceed 1.5 GW. Few closed reactors remain to restart, and new reactors arrive only in the 2030s; uprates fill the gap. One outlet reported Constellation shares rose more than 12% on the news. The money chasing AI compute is increasingly going to bottlenecks outside chips — power, grid access and land.
4. What remains unconfirmed
- The exact term and pricing of the 2,700 MW contract were not disclosed.
- Each uprate needs NRC approval; delays could push back first power in 2028.
- Whether FERC approves PJM's rule, and in what form, is undecided.
- How much data-center capacity cost will reach household bills varies by state and was not confirmed.
Sources
- CNBC — Google enters massive 3.6-GW power deal with Constellation Energy
- Yahoo Finance (Reuters) — Google enters massive 3.6-GW power deal with Constellation Energy
- DCD — Google signs 3.6GW deal with Constellation to secure power in PJM service area
- Martin Cid — Google buys 3.6 gigawatts from Constellation, but only a quarter is new nuclear