Google partners with Elementl Power to build nuclear energy sites amid AI-driven power demand

Tech giant Google has announced a partnership with Elementl Power to develop three advanced nuclear energy sites in the United States, each expected to generate 600 megawatts of power, in response to the rapidly growing electricity demand from artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

The collaboration, revealed Wednesday, reflects a broader trend of tech companies turning to nuclear energy to support their data-heavy operations with reliable, carbon-free power. While the total financial investment remains undisclosed, the move marks a significant step in integrating nuclear energy into digital infrastructure.

Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s head of data centre energy, said the partnership would enable Google to "move at the speed required to meet this moment of AI and American innovation."

Elementl Power CEO Chris Colbert highlighted the importance of the project in delivering stable, emission-free energy to the grid, noting that the companies would work with utility providers and regulators to bring additional nuclear projects online.

As AI continues to drive massive electricity consumption, U.S. states are increasingly positioning themselves as energy hubs, with many embracing nuclear energy. In 2023, 25 states passed legislation to support advanced nuclear technologies, and more than 200 pro-nuclear bills have been introduced in 2025 alone, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Google's announcement comes on the heels of similar moves by other tech leaders. Amazon recently backed small modular reactor (SMR) projects, and Constellation Energy is planning to restart the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear plant to supply power to Microsoft data centers.

Alongside nuclear, major tech firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft continue to invest heavily in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, aiming to build a resilient and low-emission energy portfolio.

SR