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Big Tech’s AI Ambitions Stalled: Regulators and Rare Bees Strike Back

closeup of bees on honeycomb in apiary - selective focus, copy space

Key Points:

• Meta’s plans to build an AI data center near a nuclear facility have been halted due to the discovery of a rare species of bee.
• Amazon’s application to draw additional power from the Susquehanna, Penn. nuclear facility to operate its Cumulus data center has been rejected by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
• Both companies are facing challenges in their efforts to use nuclear power to meet the massive electrical demands of AI-driven data centers.


In a recent development, Meta and Amazon have run into roadblocks in their plans to use nuclear power to fuel their AI-driven data centers. Meta’s project to build an AI data center near an unnamed nuclear facility has been halted due to the discovery of a rare species of bee, according to the Financial Times. The discovery was made by surveyors reviewing the site, and environmental regulators have since halted the project. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly cancelled the project entirely, citing the discovery as a further complication.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s plans to draw additional power from the Susquehanna, Penn. nuclear facility to operate its Cumulus data center have been rejected by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The company had applied to increase the power draw from 300MW to 480MW, but FERC rejected the application, citing concerns about the reliability of the grid and the potential for higher electricity rates.

The rejection is seen as a setback for Amazon, which had planned to expand its Cumulus data center and connect it directly to the power plant. The company had argued that the increased power draw was necessary to meet the growing demands of its data center, but FERC disagreed. Amazon remains committed to the project, according to Bloomberg.

The challenges faced by Meta and Amazon highlight the difficulties of using nuclear power to fuel AI-driven data centers. As the demand for data storage and processing continues to grow, companies are looking for ways to power their facilities sustainably. Nuclear power is seen as a promising option, but it is not without its challenges. The discovery of the rare species of bee in Meta’s planned data center site is a reminder of the importance of environmental considerations in the development of new projects.

Bolded Important Points:

Meta’s project has been halted due to the discovery of a rare species of bee.
Amazon’s application to draw additional power from the Susquehanna, Penn. nuclear facility has been rejected by FERC.
Both companies are facing challenges in their efforts to use nuclear power to meet the massive electrical demands of AI-driven data centers.

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