Original title “Constellation, Meta Sign 20-Year Deal for Clean, Reliable Nuclear Energy in Illinois” compressed to fit within title limits.

The clean, non-intermittent power provided by nuclear reactors is extremely valuable.

Unless you are located near a hydroelectric dam, there is really no substitute.

Here is a quote from Yann LeCun (Vice-President, Chief AI Scientist at Meta):

  AI datacenters will be built next to energy production sites that can produce 
  gigawatt-scale, low-cost, low-emission electricity continuously.

  Basically, next to nuclear power plants.

  The advantage is that there is no need for expensive and wasteful
  long-distance distribution infrastructure.

  Note: Yes, solar and wind are nice and all, but they require lots of land
  and massive-scale energy storage systems for when there is too little sun
  and/or wind. Neither simple nor cheap.

https://x.com/ylecun/status/1837875035270263014

> With the guarantee that Clinton will continue to run for another two decades, Constellation is also evaluating strategies to extend the plant’s existing early site permit or seek a new construction permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to pursue development of an advanced nuclear reactor or small modular reactor (SMR) at the Clinton Clean Energy Center site.

I guess that’s what it takes to build new reactors in this day and age :/