NextEra And Google Expand Energy Partnership To Power Massive New US Data Center Growth
A new agreement between NextEra and Google accelerates large-scale data center development supported by fresh power generation, highlighting a major shift in how AI infrastructure is built across the United States.
NextEra Energy and Google have expanded their partnership in a move that is set to reshape how digital infrastructure is powered across the United States, as rising artificial intelligence demand pushes electricity consumption to record levels.
The companies confirmed that they will work together to build multiple large-scale data center campuses, each supported by newly developed power plants designed specifically to meet surging energy needs.
While the total additional capacity has not been disclosed, the new announcement builds on an existing 3.5-gigawatt portfolio that already provides enough power for millions of homes across the country.
The latest expansion comes at a time when the American grid is struggling to keep pace with rapid digitalization, with AI training models and cloud services emerging as the biggest drivers of new electricity demand.
Technology firms increasingly view custom-built power generation as essential, as traditional grid supplies are unable to meet the speed and scale required for modern data infrastructure.
Executives said the collaboration positions NextEra to capitalize on a “bring-your-own-generation” model that enables tech companies to secure energy from dedicated facilities rather than relying solely on regional grids.
The deal also includes the launch of an AI-powered software tool by mid-2026, aimed at improving field operations by predicting equipment issues and enhancing grid reliability, signaling a broader vision for integrating digital solutions into energy management.
NextEra expects to add at least 15 gigawatts of new energy capacity for data centers by 2035, a figure that could increase substantially as AI adoption accelerates across industries.
Growing electricity demand has also revived interest in nuclear power, with NextEra preparing to restart the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa under a long-term power agreement supporting Google’s data center operations.
The project reflects a broader trend of nuclear energy reentering mainstream conversations, driven by its ability to deliver large quantities of carbon-free power without the intermittency challenges of renewables.
Alongside nuclear, developers are also turning to natural gas facilities as a quicker solution to meet near-term demand, despite their emissions profile, and NextEra expects to finalize new gas-fired power deals for data centers within the next two years.
The company has additionally secured multiple clean energy agreements with other major corporations, including more than 2.5 gigawatts of new power purchase and storage contracts with Meta scheduled between 2026 and 2028.
NextEra has also extended an agreement with WPPI Energy to continue providing nuclear-generated electricity well into the 2050s, strengthening long-term supply commitments in the Midwest.
Driven by the energy-intensive nature of AI and hyperscale cloud systems, the utility forecasts stronger-than-expected earnings through 2025 and 2026 as new generation assets and long-term contracts further expand its portfolio.
For 2025, the company now projects adjusted earnings between $3.62 and $3.70 per share, and for 2026 it expects between $3.92 and $4.02 per share, reflecting growing confidence in demand growth tied to the digital economy.
As the race to build next-generation data centers accelerates, partnerships like these are emerging as core components of America’s evolving energy landscape, merging technology and power generation in ways that could reshape infrastructure development for decades.
