Florida-based NextEra Energy announced plans with Google to restart the Duane Arnold Energy Center, Iowa’s only nuclear facility, which is located in Palo, near Cedar Rapids.
Once operational, Google will purchase power from the 615-MW plant as a 24/7 carbon-free energy source to help power Google’s growing cloud and AI infrastructure in Iowa, “while also strengthening local grid reliability, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, and driving significant economic investment to the Midwest region,” a news release said.
In addition to Google’s 25-year agreement to purchase energy from the Duane Arnold plant, one of the plant's current minority owners, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO), will purchase the remaining portion of the plant's output on the same terms as Google.
NextEra Energy has signed definitive agreements to acquire CIPCO and Corn Belt Power Cooperative's combined 30% interest in the plant, which will bring NextEra Energy's ownership to 100%.
Duane Arnold, which was shut down in 2020, is expected to be online and delivering electricity onto the grid by the first quarter of 2029, pending regulatory approvals to restart the plant.
The power purchase agreement with Google enables the investment to restart the plant and covers costs for the production of energy from Duane Arnold.
“Restarting the plant will increase generation capacity for the region, and energy customers in Iowa will not bear any costs associated with the power Google purchases from the facility. NextEra Energy’s strategic investments in nuclear and advanced generation help position Google to deploy AI that can grow the American economy, create jobs, accelerate scientific advances, improve health and educational outcomes, and strengthen national and global security,” Google and NextEra Energy said.
To that end, NextEra Energy and Google have also signed an agreement to explore the development of new nuclear generation to be deployed in the U.S., which would help power America’s growing electricity needs.
The announcement highlights NextEra Energy and Google’s long-standing relationship. NextEra Energy now has nearly 3 GW of energy projects executed with Google across the country, reinforcing its role of providing energy solutions to meet Google’s needs, they noted.
According to a recently released economic study, the recommissioning of Duane Arnold is projected to generate substantial economic benefits.
The Duane Arnold restart follows a rigorous engineering evaluation, community engagement and close coordination with federal, state and local authorities, Google and NextEra Energy said.
NextEra Energy is working proactively with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other governmental authorities to ensure a safe, timely and compliant return to service.
