Microsoft has announced that it will use the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to power its data centers and AI operations . The plant, which was operated by Constellation Energy and shut down after a nuclear accident in 1979, will reopen as the Crane Clean Energy Center in 2028.

Three Mile Island nuclear power plant to be revived

The agreement signed between Microsoft and Constellation covers the entire 20-year production capacity of the plant. The plant, which has a capacity to produce 837 megawatts of electricity, will be able to meet the energy needs of more than 800 thousand homes.

With this agreement, Microsoft aims to achieve its goals of reducing carbon emissions and operating its data centers entirely on renewable energy by 2025. Speaking on the subject, executive Bobby Hollis emphasized that the agreement is an important step in the company’s carbon-zero journey.

According to Hollis, the deal reflects not only Microsoft’s, but also the rapidly growing data center sector’s need for clean and reliable energy sources. The increasing demand for energy, along with the development of artificial intelligence technologies, is increasing interest in alternative sources such as nuclear energy. 

Constellation will invest $1.6 billion to restart the plant. The project will be implemented after obtaining the necessary permits from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other relevant agencies.

There is also a negative view of nuclear power plants all over the world. This step by Microsoft could be the beginning of a new era for the nuclear industry in America.