NextEra Energy plans to restart Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center, a 615-MW nuclear facility shuttered since 2020, after securing long-term power purchase and ownership agreements with Google and two regional cooperatives. Under a 25-year PPA, Google will procure a significant share of the plant’s output to power its expanding cloud and AI data operations in Iowa—part of a broader $7 billion state investment. Central Iowa Power Cooperative will acquire the remaining output and has sold its 20% ownership stake, along with Corn Belt Power Cooperative’s 10% stake, to NextEra, consolidating full ownership under the company. Pending regulatory approvals, the plant is expected to return to service in early 2029.
The Duane Arnold restart marks a milestone in the growing alignment between tech companies and clean-energy developers as data-center electricity demand surges. The partnership reflects a broader trend of U.S. tech giants turning to nuclear energy to secure 24/7 carbon-free power, with similar initiatives involving Constellation Energy, Microsoft, and Meta. NextEra and Google have also agreed to explore future nuclear projects across the U.S., potentially leveraging next-generation and advanced reactor technologies.
Industry observers see the project as emblematic of nuclear’s reemergence in national energy strategy, bolstered by bipartisan political support and federal efforts to streamline licensing. Advocates cite its reliability and carbon-free attributes as critical for meeting future load growth, while environmental groups continue to raise concerns about plant age and waste management. For Iowa and the broader MISO region, Duane Arnold’s restart could deliver meaningful grid reliability benefits, new construction and operational jobs, and a test case for public-private collaboration in repowering dormant nuclear assets.