Amazon's Nuclear-Powered Data Center Acquisition

In March 2024, Amazon Web Services (AWS) acquired the Cumulus Data Assets data center campus in Berwick, Pennsylvania, for $650 million. The campus is co-located with Talen Energy's 2.5 GW Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, providing AWS with direct, "behind-the-meter" access to carbon-free nuclear power. The strategic acquisition aims to secure up to 960 megawatts of power to support AWS's expanding AI and cloud computing footprint.

However, the expansion faced major regulatory hurdles. In November 2024, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) rejected an amended Interconnection Service Agreement (ISA) that would have increased the data center's direct power load from 300 MW to 480 MW. Opponents, including major utilities, argued that bypassing transmission fees could shift up to $140 million per year in costs to ordinary ratepayers and threaten grid stability.

Despite the setback, Amazon remains committed to the site, having announced plans to spend roughly $20 billion on data center infrastructure in Pennsylvania. To work around the FERC roadblock, Talen and Amazon shifted toward a "front-of-the-meter" framework in 2025, where the facility connects to the grid like a traditional customer while Talen performs necessary transmission upgrades. The companies are also exploring the development of small modular reactors (SMRs) to further expand power capacity at the site.