PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — Advanced nuclear technology company Oklo Inc. and Meta Platforms have announced a major agreement aimed at developing up to 1.2 gigawatts of clean nuclear power in southern Ohio, a project expected to bring thousands of jobs and long-term economic investment to the region.
Under the agreement, Meta will support Oklo’s plans to build a large-scale nuclear power campus in Pike County that would supply electricity for Meta’s growing data center operations in Ohio. The deal includes a mechanism allowing Meta to prepay for power and provide funding to help Oklo advance early development work and procurement for its Aurora powerhouse reactors.
Oklo plans to develop the project on approximately 206 acres in Pike County, land formerly owned by the U.S. Department of Energy and now owned by Oklo. The acquisition was facilitated in part by the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), which has been leading redevelopment efforts at the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site.
“This vision to build a new generation of advanced reactors in Ohio is becoming a reality,” said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. “With this agreement and Meta’s support, we’re taking a major step toward delivering clean energy and creating long-term, high-quality jobs in southern Ohio.”
Funding from the agreement will be used to secure nuclear fuel and advance Phase 1 of the project. Pre-construction and site characterization are expected to begin in 2026, with the first reactors targeted to come online as early as 2030. The campus is designed to scale incrementally, reaching the full 1.2-gigawatt capacity by 2034.
The project is expected to create thousands of construction jobs and permanent operational positions, while expanding Ohio’s clean energy workforce and generating new local and state tax revenue. Officials say Ohio’s strong transmission infrastructure and position within the PJM Interconnection make it a strategic location for meeting rising power demand driven by artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
“Our agreement with Oklo supports the development of 1.2 gigawatts of nuclear energy in southern Ohio, including power for Meta’s operations such as our AI supercluster in New Albany,” said Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy. “This project will create jobs, spur innovation, and strengthen American leadership in energy technology.”
SODI officials said the project underscores the ongoing transformation of the former Portsmouth site into a hub for advanced manufacturing and clean energy.
“The redevelopment of this site has the potential to be transformative for our community,” said Kevin Shoemaker, general counsel for SODI. “We look forward to continuing this partnership to bring jobs and economic opportunity to the region.”
