NextEra Energy and Google Forge Landmark Partnership to Build Gigawatt-Scale Data Center Campuses
December 9, 2025
In a major move that underscores the deepening convergence of energy and technology infrastructure, NextEra Energy, Inc. and Google Cloud have announced a strategic partnership to develop at least three gigawatt-scale data center campuses. The collaboration represents a significant step in addressing the massive power demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, while simultaneously aiming to transform utility operations through advanced AI.
The agreement, announced on December 11, will see the two industry giants jointly develop multiple large-scale data center campuses, including the associated power generation and grid infrastructure required to support them. The companies confirmed that the first three campus locations are already under development, with plans to identify additional sites for future expansion. Specific details regarding the locations and total investment were not disclosed.
The scale of the partnership is anchored by an existing relationship where more than 3.5 gigawatts of power capacity is already in operation or under contract between the two firms. A cornerstone of this existing collaboration is a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement signed in October 2025 to support the restart of the 615-megawatt Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear plant in Iowa. This facility is expected to begin delivering power for Google's AI operations by 2029.
NextEra Energy Chairman and CEO John Ketchum framed the alliance as a response to a pivotal moment. "Our partnership with Google exemplifies this very singular moment when energy and technology are becoming inextricably intertwined," Ketchum stated. "Together, we intend to build data center capacity and energy infrastructure at scale, advance cutting-edge technology, and reimagine how energy companies operate."
Beyond physical infrastructure, the partnership includes a significant technology exchange. Google Cloud will integrate its generative and agentic AI capabilities with NextEra's operational data to predict equipment failures and optimize grid management. NextEra will also gain access to Google's latest forecasting models, including TimesFM 2.5 and WeatherNext 2, which the companies claim will enhance grid reliability and planning. The first commercial product stemming from this AI integration is slated for release on the Google Cloud Marketplace by mid-2026.
For Google, the deal secures a pathway to power its rapidly expanding AI infrastructure. "Working with NextEra Energy to power our infrastructure growth further strengthens our long-standing collaboration and will help us meet increasing demand from our customers as they deploy AI technologies at scale," said Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian.
The implications of this partnership extend far beyond the immediate projects. It establishes a new blueprint for hyperscale data center development, directly linking massive compute capacity with dedicated, often carbon-free, power generation at a multi-gigawatt scale. This model is likely to influence how other tech giants approach site selection and energy procurement, potentially accelerating investments in nuclear and other firm clean energy sources to meet the insatiable power needs of the AI era.
Source: datacenterdynamics
NextEra Energy and Google Forge Landmark Partnership to Build Gigawatt-Scale Data Center Campuses
