Iowa’s once-operational nuclear plant, now part of a restart push linked to data-center demand
The United States is accelerating a wave of nuclear-restoration projects to power AI data centers and curb rising utility costs. Three plants are being restarted with government financing and private-sector partnerships, signaling a strategic shift to firm, zero-emission power for a digitally expanding economy.
The Department of Energy has begun lending up to $4.4 billion to restart three decommissioned U.S. nuclear plants—Palisades, Three Mile Island, and Duane Arnold—to restore about 2.25 gigawatts of power. Big Tech contracts underpin some plants, aiming to deliver carbon-free electricity quickly; critics warn safety and aging infrastructure risk. The Trump administration is backing nuclear as a fast-track energy solution.