en.Wedoany.com Reported - Walmart has signed its first nuclear power purchase agreement, which will provide electricity for the company's large high-tech fresh food distribution center under construction in Belvidere, Illinois. The agreement, reached with Constellation Energy, involves approximately 176 megawatts of power supply from two units at the Dresden Clean Energy Center, including 30 megawatts of expanded generation capacity.

In December, Constellation Energy received 20-year subsequent operating licenses for two operating units at Dresden. These units are Dresden Unit 2 (an 894 MWe boiling water reactor, connected to the grid in April 1970) and Unit 3 (an 879 MWe boiling water reactor, connected to the grid in July 1971). After renewal, they can operate until 2049 and 2051 respectively, with a total operating life of 80 years.

Jim McHugh, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Constellation Energy, stated that the agreement reflects long-term stewardship of critical infrastructure, the communities it serves, and the energy system driving U.S. economic growth. Walmart's commitment injects meaningful investment into the Dresden Clean Energy Center, enhancing reliability, sustaining local jobs and economic activity, and delivering more reliable, emission-free electricity to the Illinois grid.

Shayne Wahlmeier, Senior Vice President of Energy at Walmart U.S., said that Walmart has a long history of investing in energy solutions that support its business and the communities where it operates, and this agreement builds on that foundation. Partnering with Constellation Energy supports new operations in Illinois while advancing a strategy that prioritizes affordable, reliable, and clean energy for the business and communities. The company continuously evaluates new capabilities and energy solutions to ensure the electricity it relies on is produced reliably and responsibly, supporting long-term growth.

Power purchase agreements are becoming increasingly common in the nuclear energy sector, where end users effectively "purchase" a portion or all of a plant's future output. Over the past two to three years, the most notable cases of such agreements have involved tech giants and data centers, and Walmart joins this trend as a major retailer. Walmart operates 10,900 stores in 19 countries, serves 280 million customers, and reported revenue of $713 billion in 2026.

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