Atomic Intelligence: Meta Secures 6.6 Gigawatts of Nuclear Power for “Prometheus” AI Supercluster
In a move that signals the beginning of the “Atomic Age” for Big Tech, Meta has announced a series of historic agreements with three major nuclear energy providers: Vistra, TerraPower, and Oklo. This multi-gigawatt partnership is designed to provide a massive, 24/7 carbon-free energy foundation for Meta’s Prometheus supercluster, an advanced AI computing system currently under construction in New Albany, Ohio.
The announcement, made on Friday, January 9, 2026, underscores the desperate hunger for electricity within the artificial intelligence sector. As Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushes the company toward the development of “artificial superintelligence,” the firm is now positioning itself as one of the largest corporate purchasers of nuclear power in American history.
The Prometheus Project: A Digital Colossus
The centerpiece of Meta’s infrastructure strategy is the Prometheus supercluster. First announced in mid-2025, Prometheus is described as a “titan-scale” data center campus designed to host the massive GPU clusters required to train next-generation AI models (such as Llama 5 and beyond).
Located in New Albany, Ohio, the campus is expected to come online later this year. To put its power needs into perspective, Meta’s total nuclear energy commitment of 6.6 gigawatts by 2035 is enough to power the entire state of New Hampshire.
| Partner | Technology Type | Expected Capacity | Timeline |
| Vistra | Traditional Nuclear (Uprates/Extension) | ~2.6 GW | Immediate – 2027 |
| TerraPower | Natrium Advanced Reactors (SMRs) | Up to 2.8 GW | 2032 – 2035 |
| Oklo | Aurora Fast Fission (SMRs) | Up to 1.2 GW | 2030 |
The “Sam Altman Connection” and Advanced SMRs
Perhaps the most notable of the three deals is the partnership with Oklo, an advanced nuclear company backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Despite being fierce rivals in the AI race, Meta and OpenAI-linked entities are finding common ground in the energy sector.
Oklo is pioneering Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are smaller, factory-built units designed to be more flexible and less expensive than traditional, massive nuclear domes. Meta’s funding will help advance Oklo’s “advanced nuclear technology campus” in Pike County, Ohio, creating a localized energy ecosystem for the state’s growing data center hub.
TerraPower and the Bill Gates Influence
Meta is also placing a heavy bet on TerraPower, the energy firm founded by Bill Gates. This agreement focuses on “Natrium” reactors, which use liquid sodium as a coolant instead of water, allowing for higher efficiency and integrated energy storage.
- Phase 1: Funding for two units (690 MW) by 2032.
- Phase 2: Rights for six additional units, targeting 2.1 GW by 2035.
Why Nuclear? The AI Energy Crisis
The “gold rush” for nuclear power among tech giants—including Microsoft’s recent deal to restart Three Mile Island and Google’s partnership with Kairos Power—stems from a simple reality: AI doesn’t sleep.
Traditional renewables like wind and solar are intermittent; they depend on the sun shining or the wind blowing. AI superclusters like Prometheus require “baseload” power—a constant, unwavering stream of electricity that only nuclear or fossil fuels can currently provide at scale. By choosing nuclear, Meta can meet its ambitious AI goals without abandoning its 2030 net-zero carbon commitments.
Economic Impact: Jobs and Grid Stability
Meta policy chief Joel Kaplan noted that these deals aren’t just about silicon and servers; they are about local economic revitalization.
- Construction: Thousands of temporary jobs in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
- Operations: Hundreds of permanent, high-skilled roles.
- Infrastructure: By funding “uprates” (efficiency upgrades) at Vistra’s existing Perry and Davis-Besse plants, Meta is essentially paying to keep the local grid stronger and more modern for all residents.
The Road Ahead
While the vision of a nuclear-powered AI future is compelling, it is not without hurdles. No commercial SMR is currently operating in the U.S., and the regulatory path through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) remains notoriously slow and expensive.
However, with Meta’s “hundred-billion-dollar” checkbook now backing these projects, the momentum for a domestic nuclear renaissance has never been stronger. As Prometheus prepares to “wake up” in 2026, the silence of the Ohio countryside will be replaced by the hum of the world’s most powerful AI, fueled by the split atom.
