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Initiative Wants to Build Three High-Capacity Plants to Supply Data Centers and Strengthen the Country’s Energy Matrix
The United States is about to make a strategic leap in energy generation with the construction of three new nuclear plants, a result of a partnership between Google and the startup Elementl Power. The project aims at the country’s energy security in the face of advancements in artificial intelligence and the growing demand for clean and reliable sources.
US Strengthens Its Energy Infrastructure with Google’s Support
The search for robust and sustainable energy solutions has gained new momentum in the US. Elementl Power, a US startup founded in 2022, announced an ambitious plan to build three advanced nuclear plants on US soil, with financial support from Google. According to the New York Post, each unit will have a minimum capacity of 600 megawatts and can power critical operations, such as data centers focused on artificial intelligence.
This move positions the US at the forefront of a new cycle of investments in nuclear energy, reinforcing the role of the private sector as a driver of national energy infrastructure.
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With 39 years of halted construction and R$1 billion draining annually without generating a single watt, Angra 3 has become a ticking time bomb for Eletronuclear — while China put 20 new reactors into operation in the same period.
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The United States spent US$ 15 billion to excavate 8 km of tunnels inside a mountain in the Nevada desert — the world’s safest nuclear waste repository was ready, but never received a single barrel of waste.
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China has just commissioned the world’s first commercial mini-nuclear reactor — it is only 14 meters tall, generates energy for 526,000 homes, and prevents 880,000 tons of CO₂ per year.
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South Korea held plasma at 100 million degrees for 102 seconds inside a nuclear fusion reactor — more than double the previous record and the most concrete step taken towards endless clean energy.
US Legislation Favors Nuclear Resumption
According to AP News, more than 25 US states have already approved specific legislations to facilitate the advancement of next-generation nuclear energy. The initiative involving Google and Elementl arises in this favorable political context, being yet another piece in the puzzle of expanding the US energy matrix without compromising decarbonization targets.
With over 200 bills related to nuclear energy currently in Congress and state assemblies, the US shows a clear willingness to place atomic technology at the center of its 21st-century energy strategy.
US and the Role of Big Tech in the Future of Energy
This partnership between the technology sector and the energy sector is not isolated. Besides Google, other US giants like Microsoft and Amazon have intensified their bets on nuclear energy to meet the growing demand of their cloud and AI-based services. This trend consolidates the role of Big Tech as influential players in shaping the country’s energy landscape, going beyond consumption to directly influence supply sources.
According to the Financial Times, Google has also reached an agreement with Kairos Power to acquire energy from small modular reactors, which are expected to be operational by 2030.
Although not technically a renewable source, nuclear energy is widely recognized as a low-carbon emission solution. Organizations like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) include nuclear power in energy transition strategies, alongside solar and wind. Its main advantage lies in the ability to generate large volumes of clean energy continuously, without relying on variables like wind or sun, making it an important ally in combating climate change.
Nuclear Energy Capacity Is Expected to Grow by 2035 in the US with Google as Partner
Elementl Power aims to add more than 10 gigawatts of nuclear capacity to the electrical grid of the US by 2035, contributing to the stability of the electrical system in the face of extreme weather events and demand fluctuations. As highlighted by World Nuclear News, the company declares itself “agnostic regarding technology,” indicating openness to applying different reactor models as the market evolves.
With a partner like Google, the startup increases its chances of turning these plans into reality in the medium term, elevating the US to a strategic position in the race for clean and continuous energy solutions.
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