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Amazon is investing $20 billion to build two data centre complexes in Pennsylvania, one of them tapping directly into a nuclear plant.
The deets: one data centre will rise next to Susquehanna nuclear power plant, where Amazon plans to plug in for power via a special "behind the meter" connection. The other complex will be built at Fairless Hills, on the former site of a US Steel mill, and powered through the regular grid.
Worth noting: this is the largest private investment in Pennsylvania’s history.
The state will likely offer tens of millions in incentives to secure the deal, and the government will also spend $10 million on training programs to build a skilled workforce for the centres.
Why it matters: the AI boom and cloud computing are driving huge demand for energy-hungry data centres. These centres need constant power to run servers, storage, and cooling systems 24/7 and nuclear power offers a reliable, clean source.
For Amazon, plugging directly into a power plant can shave years off development timelines, bypass grid congestion, and lock in long-term power supply.
