- Meta’s plans to build a nuclear-powered AI data center were scrapped due to the discovery of rare bees at the proposed site.
- The incident highlights the growing tension between Big Tech’s increasing demand for energy and environmental concerns.
- Zuckerberg expressed frustration at the lack of nuclear power options in the US compared to China’s rapid nuclear expansion.
At an all-hands meeting last week, Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Meta workers that plans to build an AI data center powered by nuclear energy were scrapped after rare bees were discovered on the proposed site.
Meta’s proposed AI data center project with an existing nuclear power plant operator fell apart over environmental and regulatory challenges, according to a Financial Times report, citing two people familiar with the meeting.
The people gave no details about which nuclear power plant Meta planned to build an AI data center in an adjacent lot. They noted that Meta continues to search for locations to tap into carbon-free energy.
Here’s more from the report…
Zuckerberg told staffers at the all-hands that, had the deal gone ahead, Meta would have been the first Big Tech group to wield nuclear-powered AI, and would have had the largest nuclear plant available to power data centres, two people said.
One person familiar with the matter said that Zuckerberg has been frustrated with the lack of nuclear options in the US, while China has been embracing nuclear power. China appears to be building nuclear reactors at a fast clip, whereas only a handful of reactors have been brought online over the past two decades in the US.
Incredible power demand growth from AI data centers has sparked a nuclear power revival in the US (but no fast enough when compared with China):
- Amazon To Invest More Than $500 Million In Small Modular Nuclear Reactors To Power AWS
- Nuclear Names Surge After Three Mile Island Planned Restart To Power Microsoft Data Centers
- Nuclear Is Back: US Closes On $1.5 Billion Loan To Resurrect Holtec’s Palisades Nuclear Plant
- Sam Altman-Backed Nuclear Startup Oklo Signs Agreement With Dept. Of Energy For Next Phase Of Siting In Idaho
While we may not always see eye to eye with Zuckerberg, we share his concerns about China outpacing the US in nuclear power development. It’s alarming that Western lawmakers, wearing climate crisis blinders, have pushed de-growth global warming and climate policies that only stifle industrial output and fuel inflation, while providing China a clear runway to eclipse the West’s economy due to its total disregard for such policies.
It’s safe to say that when the Communist Party in China builds coal power plants, concerns about bees are likely the last thing on their minds.
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