The largest grid operator in the United States is expediting the review process for restarting the Three Mile Island nuclear plant, a move driven by the energy demands of the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence sector. Unit 1 of the Pennsylvania plant, which was shut down in 2019, may be revived to supply 835 megawatts of carbon-free electricity directly to a Microsoft data centre.
Constellation Energy is investing $1.6 billion in the project, with plans to rebrand the site as the Crane Clean Energy Center. Microsoft has committed to a 20-year power purchase agreement. The plant's potential restart underscores a shift in how digital infrastructure is being developed, with power availability becoming a primary factor in location decisions.
If successful, Three Mile Island could be one of the first nuclear reactors in the US to be brought back online after being decommissioned. The facility is undergoing renovations and requires permits, with operations potentially resuming by 2028.
