> At a Glance
> – Meta just signed three nuclear-power deals totaling up to 4 GW for the early 2030s
> – Vistra will supply 2.1 GW from existing Ohio reactors plus 433 MW of upgrades
> – Oklo and TerraPower each committed to build fleets of small modular reactors
> – Why it matters: The agreements could make or break the commercial case for next-gen nuclear while giving Meta the 24/7 carbon-free electricity its data centers need
Meta has locked in a wave of carbon-free electricity to feed its AI ambitions, announcing simultaneous agreements with Vistra, Oklo, and TerraPower that could deliver up to 4 GW of nuclear power by the early 2030s. The deals-awarded after a December 2024 request for proposals-mix tried-and-true reactors with first-of-a-kind small modular reactors in a bid to keep the company’s Mid-Atlantic data centers humming.
The Immediate Boost: Vistra’s Existing Fleet
Vistra will sell Meta 2.1 GW from its Perry and Davis-Besse plants in Ohio under a 20-year contract, the surest and cheapest portion of the package. The generator also plans to expand output at those sites and at Pennsylvania’s Beaver Valley, tacking on another 433 MW scheduled for completion in the early 2030s. Much of that power will flow through the PJM grid, already crowded with new data-center load.
The Long-Term Gamble: Oklo & TerraPower SMRs
Startups shoulder the rest of Meta’s order, giving them a chance to prove mass-manufactured reactors can beat today’s sticker prices.
- Oklo will deliver 1.2 GW using its 75 MW Aurora Powerhouse units, penciling in at least 16 reactors in Pike County, Ohio, with commercial power targeted for 2030. The company-public since a 2023 SPAC merger-still awaits Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval of its design.
- TerraPower, co-founded by Bill Gates, will build two 345 MW sodium-cooled reactors capable of storing 100-500 MW for five-plus hours, sending the first 690 MW to Meta around 2032. Meta retains an option for six additional units that would raise total capacity to 2.8 GW plus 1.2 GW of storage.
| Developer | Capacity (MW) | First Power | Target Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vistra | 2,533 existing + 433 uprate | 2030-31 | Cheapest on grid |
| Oklo | 1,200 | 2030 | $80-$130 MWh (goal) |
| TerraPower | 690 (2.8 GW option) | 2032 | $50-$60 MWh (goal) |
Pricing for all three deals remains confidential, though electricity from Vistra’s running reactors is expected to undercut every other source. Costs for the first SMRs will almost certainly exceed the startups’ long-term targets of $50-$130 per megawatt-hour.
Key Takeaways
- The agreements give Meta diversified zero-carbon power to match 24/7 AI workloads
- Vistra’s 2.5-plus GW provides near-term, low-cost baseload from existing Ohio reactors
- Oklo and TerraPower gain marquee customers to validate factory-built reactors
- PJM will absorb most of the new supply, easing data-center concentration in the region
If the startups hit their timelines, Meta’s data-center expansion will move ahead without new fossil generation while setting the first commercial test for small modular nuclear economics.
