- The three -thousand nuclear power plant seems to be ahead of planning, opening in 2027 (not 2028)
- Microsoft has a 20 -year electricity purchase agreement on the site
- Other AI companies also invest in nuclear power
The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant could restart in 2027 – a year before its initial reopening date of 2028 – but with a key difference compared to its ancient life.
Only unit 1 will be restarted, because it was not involved in the collapse of 1979, which affected unit 2. Although Unit 1 remained open after the incident, it was closed in 2019 for economic reasons (and not security problems).
This time, it should be operated by Microsoft, following the company’s agreement on an electricity purchase agreement (PPA) of 20 years, signed in September 2024, in collaboration with Constellation Energy.
Microsoft revives the three -thousand nuclear power plant
Microsoft is specifically interested in this nuclear power plant because of its energy consumption and its increasing requests, caused by its AI eager in power data centers. Consequently, Redmond and other hyperscalers, including Meta, AWS and Oracle, have all invested massively in nuclear energy to meet demand.
For example, Meta recently signed a similar 20 -year agreement for the Clinton nuclear power plant in Illinois, and AWS has invested $ 650 million in nuclear propulsion data centers near the Susquehanna factory in Pennsylvania.
The water systems have now been restored on the site and the infrastructure inspections completed, according to PK Press Club Reports. The site is now awaiting the approval of the connections of the regional operator of the network, the nuclear regulation committee provided to inspect the site next month.
More broadly, Microsoft’s decision to reopen a closed nuclear site is the first of its kind and the reflection of the industry rush to produce more energy. The demand for electricity in the United States also leads to an increase in nuclear power plants in particular, thanks to their relatively high production.
Constellation CEO, Joe Dominguez, admitted: “We made a mistake by closing this plant, but we are not here to dwell on the past.” For the future, while Microsoft and its rivals of large technologies are preparing to integrate AI into more aspects of labor and personal life, it is clear that more must be done not only to produce enough electricity, but also to respond to increasing environmental concerns.
