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Constellation and Google have agreed to a 20-year power deal tied to upgrades at 11 existing nuclear plants in the PJM grid region. Constellation says the projects will add 890 megawatts of generating capacity, with the first expected by 2028 and the full program due in the early 2030s.
Constellation Energy said Tuesday it will work with Google on upgrades at 11 existing nuclear plants in the PJM electricity market, a program the company says will add 890 megawatts of generating capacity. The initiative is budgeted at more than $4.3 billion and is linked to a 20-year power agreement, adding nuclear supply without building new reactors.
The work, known as power uprates, involves replacing or improving equipment such as turbines, steam generators and digital control systems. Constellation said the changes will allow the plants to produce more electricity using their existing reactor facilities. The projects vary by plant, and the company has not described the work as a single standardized upgrade.
Constellation spokesperson Paul Adams told Canary Media that the first Google-backed uprate is expected to be completed by 2028, with the full group of projects finished in the early 2030s. The largest specified project is at the Limerick plant near Philadelphia, where the company plans to add 348 MW to its 2,317-MW capacity. The Salem plant in southern New Jersey is slated for a 97-MW increase from its 2,327-MW capacity.
Constellation puts the program’s total budget above $4.3 billion, or just over $4,800 per kilowatt of added capacity. That figure is the company’s estimate; project costs and schedules may differ across the 11 sites. The announcement does not specify the full allocation of the 890 MW among all plants or provide a plant-by-plant construction timetable.
More Nuclear Output on PJM’s Grid
The agreement arrives as PJM faces rising electricity demand, including from data centers, and concerns about supply and power prices. The grid operator covers 13 states and serves about 67 million people. PJM says demand across its footprint is expected to rise by more than 5% annually over the next decade, while retail prices could rise as much as 60% by 2030. Those are PJM projections, not guaranteed outcomes.
Nuclear plants generally operate at high utilization compared with many other electricity sources. The Department of Energy reports an average U.S. nuclear capacity factor of 92.3%, meaning plants produce close to their rated output during most hours. That operating profile can complement variable wind and solar generation. The proposed uprates would add capacity at existing sites, but the announcement alone does not establish how much they will affect regional prices or reliability.
The price tag also highlights the trade-offs. At more than $4,800 per kilowatt, the project is costlier on that measure than several alternatives cited in the report, including utility-scale solar paired with storage and new gas generation. It is less than half the per-kilowatt cost associated with the recently completed Vogtle nuclear units in Georgia, which ran years late and exceeded their initial budget. Cost comparisons depend on project scope, timing and the services each resource provides.
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A Wave of Existing-Plant Upgrades
The Constellation-Google arrangement follows other corporate-backed nuclear uprate plans. Constellation and Meta announced a smaller 30-MW project last year, while Georgia Power and Google agreed to support 96 MW of uprates at two Georgia nuclear stations. These deals use long-term power purchasing agreements, a model also used by technology companies to contract for renewable electricity.
One day before Constellation’s announcement, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a $4.2 billion loan to extend the operating lives of three Vistra-owned nuclear plants in Pennsylvania and Ohio. The loan will also support 433 MW of previously announced uprates, with Meta as the power buyer, according to the report. Together, those plans represent a substantial share of the uprate projects being pursued in PJM.
The projects are part of a broader effort to increase carbon-free nuclear capacity without relying solely on new reactor construction. Uprates can be completed at existing facilities, but they still require equipment work, regulatory steps and site-specific planning. They are distinct from restarting a closed reactor or building a new plant.
“For the near term, uprates are the fastest, most practical and cost-effective ways to add reliable, clean nuclear capacity.”
— Judi Greenwald, president and CEO of the Nuclear Innovation Alliance
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Plant-Level Plans Still Pending
The announcement does not identify the schedule, equipment changes or exact capacity contribution for each of the 11 plants. It also does not detail the agreement’s power pricing, how Google will take or use the electricity, or how the 890 MW will be phased into the grid. Constellation has said completion is expected in the early 2030s, but individual milestones could vary.
The final cost and timing remain subject to project execution and any required regulatory approvals. It is also unclear how much the added capacity will change PJM’s future prices or reliability, which depend on demand, other generation projects, transmission constraints and other market conditions. The capacity target is a company projection, not capacity already operating.
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Uprate Work Begins Before 2028
Constellation expects its first Google-backed uprate to be completed by 2028, followed by the remaining projects through the early 2030s. The next key information will be plant-specific schedules and details of the equipment work as they become available. The company’s stated 890-MW addition will be realized only as the projects are completed and the upgraded facilities enter service.
For now, the announcement sets a long-term commercial framework for the work rather than delivering new electricity immediately. PJM and power buyers will be able to assess the actual contribution as the upgrades progress alongside other planned generation and grid investments.
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Key Questions
What did Constellation and Google announce?
Constellation said it will upgrade equipment at 11 existing nuclear plants in PJM under a 20-year agreement with Google. The company expects the work to add 890 MW of generating capacity.
What is a nuclear power uprate?
An uprate increases a plant’s generating capacity through equipment or system improvements, such as changes to turbines, steam generators or controls. It differs from building a new reactor.
When will the added capacity be available?
Constellation expects the first project to be completed by 2028 and the full group of uprates in the early 2030s. The company has not published a complete site-by-site schedule.
How much will the program cost?
Constellation estimates that the entire initiative will cost more than $4.3 billion, or just over $4,800 per kilowatt of added capacity. The final cost may vary by project.
Will the upgrades lower electricity prices?
That is not established. PJM says additional supply can ease upward price pressure, but the effect on prices will depend on demand, other power projects and grid conditions.
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