Perry Nuclear Plant Extends Operations to 2060s with Meta Deal
The Perry Nuclear Power Plant, backed by its new long-term power agreement with Meta, is set to extend its operating license into the 2060s, plant officials announced. This move comes as part of a broader shift in how large technology companies are approaching energy supply, with Meta aiming to secure nuclear power for its growing artificial intelligence and data center operations.
During a briefing to Geauga County commissioners, plant officials revealed how the deal is shaping both a license-extension push and a series of planned upgrades at the site. Under the agreement with Meta, the Perry plant is preparing to boost its electricity output by approximately 15%.
Terry Brown, vice president of the plant, informed commissioners that Vistra, which acquired Perry in 2024, now intends to pursue another 20-year federal license extension from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This extension could allow Perry to operate as late as 2066. The plant, constructed in 1986, received its initial license extension last summer, enabling operations through 2046.
Perry currently generates around 1,300 megawatts of electricity. The planned uprate would add roughly 200 megawatts, increasing the plant's output to approximately 1,500 megawatts. This increase is part of Vistra's Meta-related upgrades at three nuclear plants, including Perry, Davis-Besse near Toledo, and Beaver Valley in Pennsylvania, which would collectively add 433 megawatts of new capacity across the system.
Brown explained that the Meta deal coincided with the end of a prior power purchase agreement, providing long-term certainty for Perry's operations. The power uprate will necessitate significant equipment upgrades, which Vistra plans to complete during scheduled refueling outages in 2027, 2029, and 2031. The most extensive phase of work is scheduled for 2031, when the reactor will be shut down for approximately 80 days, bringing about 1,000 additional workers to the site and a temporary economic boost to the region.
Smaller outages, typically occurring around March, are planned for 2027 and 2029. Perry employs around 600 full-time staff and over 200 permanent contractors, according to Vistra. Brown emphasized that the project is part of a broader shift in how large technology companies are approaching energy supply, with Meta pursuing long-term nuclear energy agreements to support its growing demand for electricity.
Ohio, in particular, has witnessed a surge in interest from data centers and other energy-intensive industries, raising questions about grid capacity and long-term power planning. Brown asserted that Perry's upgrades would position the plant as a significant source of baseload power for decades, supporting both regional economic stability and evolving national energy needs.
"The big change is the investment in the plant and its long-term viability," Brown stated. "It's been a challenge, and it's exciting to see the direction we're heading." Molly Walsh, a reporter for The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com, covers Lake and Geauga Counties, having previously worked on business, criminal justice, and breaking news stories.
