Full Breakdown
Amazon Secures 20-Year Nuclear Power Deal with Constellation for Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: 20-Year Power Purchase Agreement
On September 30, 2026, Amazon.com Inc. and Constellation Energy Corp. announced a 20-year power-purchase agreement (PPA) under which Amazon will buy 690 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center in Lusby, Maryland. The contract includes a 190 MW capacity “uprate” that Constellation plans to bring online between 2030 and 2032. The agreement does not involve any on-site data-center construction; all power will be delivered front-of-the-meter to the PJM Interconnection regional grid. Revenue certainty from the PPA is intended to fund more than $3 billion in infrastructure upgrades and to support the plant’s relicensing for an additional 20 years.
Background & Context
Calvert Cliffs is Maryland’s sole nuclear complex, comprising two reactors that together generate about 1,790 MW—roughly 80 % of the state’s carbon-free electricity and enough to power over 1.3 million homes. The plant employs about 800 workers and contributes roughly $21 million in annual tax revenue. Earlier in 2026, Amazon withdrew a conceptual plan for a data center at the site after local opposition prompted Calvert County officials to impose a six-month moratorium on new data-center approvals. The new PPA follows that withdrawal and comes amid broader scrutiny of energy-intensive data-center projects across Maryland.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total power purchased by Amazon | 690 MW |
| Capacity uprate included in the deal | 190 MW |
| Existing plant capacity | ~1,790 MW |
| Share of Maryland’s clean energy from Calvert Cliffs | ~80 % |
| Homes powered by the plant’s output | >1.3 million |
| Employees at the facility | ~800 |
| Planned investment funded by the PPA | >$3 billion |
| License expiry for Unit 1 | 2034 |
| License expiry for Unit 2 | 2036 |
| Expected uprate commissioning | 2030-2032 |
Official Statements & Responses
The companies also signed a retail-supply agreement to support Amazon’s operations across the 13-state PJM market. Bloomberg noted that Constellation’s shares rose as much as 5.5 % in after-hours trading following the announcement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This agreement demonstrates how private investment can strengthen critical energy infrastructure,” — Joe Dominguez, Constellation’s chairman, president and chief executive officer
- “Amazon is committed to investing in carbon-free energy to strengthen the grid and benefit the communities where we operate,” — Kerry Person, vice president of AWS Global Operations and Data Center Delivery
- “This shows the markets working through a competitive process,” — David Dardis, a Constellation senior executive vice president
- “Nothing’s being built at Calvert Cliffs, and there’s no customer there,” — David Dardis, a Constellation senior executive vice president
What’s Next
Constellation intends to use the PPA’s revenue certainty to pursue relicensing of Calvert Cliffs for operation into the mid-2050s. The 190 MW uprate is slated for completion between 2030 and 2032, and both companies have indicated early-stage discussions about deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site. Further details on the SMR feasibility study and any additional regulatory filings are expected to be disclosed in the coming months.