Walmart signed its first nuclear power deal, becoming one of the first major US retailers to do so. The 15-year agreement with Constellation Energy will supply about 176 MW to a new automated perishable distribution center Walmart is building in Belvidere, Illinois.
The deal: The power will come from Constellation’s Dresden plant in Morris, Illinois, through two 15-year terms starting in 2029 and 2030. About 30 MW of the 176 MW comes from new capacity created through plant uprates. That means the agreement helps fund upgrades rather than simply purchasing existing output.
Dresden is a two-reactor plant licensed to run through 2049 and 2051. Pricing was not disclosed.
Why baseload fits the load: The Belvidere DC will handle fresh produce, eggs, dairy and frozen goods around the clock, so power demand stays steady 24 hours a day. That kind of constant load is a poor fit for wind or solar, which need grid backup when generation falls.
Nuclear operates at high capacity factors in all weather, which is why the buyers in this PPA wave continue choosing it. The deal allos Walmart to “support new operations in Illinois while advancing our strategy in a way that prioritizes affordable, reliable, and clean energy," said SVP Energy Shayne Wahlmeier.
The pattern: Until now, most nuclear PPAs have come from data centers and AI operators securing 24/7 power.
Microsoft and Constellation, on the restarted Three Mile Island plant (835 MW)
Meta and Constellation, at Clinton (roughly 1,100 MW)
Amazon and Talen, at Susquehanna (960 MW)
Walmart is the first retailer in that group, and its deal supports a CD, not a server farm.
What's next: Power deliveries begin in 2029 and 2030 after Constellation completes the uprates. The Belvidere DC is part of Walmart’s effort to rebuild its regional network around automation for fresh and frozen goods. Walmart says this type of facility can handle more than twice the volume of a traditional perishable DC.
