Nuclear Nightmares: Amazon and Meta’s Ambitious Energy Dreams Crumble under Regulatory Pressure and Environmental Hurdles

Big Tech faces significant regulatory hurdles in securing nuclear energy for data centers

Amazon and Meta's ambitions to obtain dependable energy supplies for their data centers—which are vital to power their AI operations—have been foiled by regulators, dealing a serious blow to Big Tech's nuclear agenda. Citing worries about grid reliability as well as possible consumer pricing increases, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently denied Amazon's request to expand its electricity demand from the Susquehanna nuclear facility in Pennsylvania. This ruling came after a 2-1 vote that underscored how difficult it is to strike a balance between regulatory control and energy demands.

Meanwhile, the discovery of a rare species of bee on the property raised environmental concerns, forcing Meta to postpone its plans to build an AI data center next to a nuclear power plant. CEO Mark Zuckerberg criticized these regulatory hurdles, pointing out the stark disparity with China's explosive nuclear growth.

Microsoft's plans to restart a reactor at Three Mile Island are still moving forward in spite of these hurdles, underscoring a competitive environment where energy safety is essential to maintaining technical power. The road ahead is still riddled with regulatory obstacles that might hinder America's AI accomplishments as tech companies struggle with a dire need for sustainable power solutions in the face of skyrocketing energy demands.