Takeaways

• Walmart has signed a nuclear PPA with Constellation to supply clean electricity for its expanding Illinois operations, including a new distribution center.
• The agreement supports Walmart's long-term net-zero emissions strategy while adding 30 MW of new nuclear generation capacity to the Illinois grid.
• Corporate demand for nuclear power continues to rise as companies seek reliable, round-the-clock clean energy to meet sustainability goals.

Walmart has signed a nuclear PPA with Constellation to help power its growing operations in Illinois, marking another step in the retailer's strategy to secure reliable, low-carbon electricity while advancing its climate commitments.

The agreement will supply electricity from Constellation's Dresden Clean Energy Center, a nuclear facility in Illinois. According to Constellation, the deal will add 30 megawatts (MW) of new generation capacity, providing enough additional electricity to support Walmart's new perishable distribution center currently under development in the state.

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The partnership also strengthens Walmart's presence in Illinois, where the company operates around 175 stores and clubs and employs more than 55,000 associates.

Shayne Wahlmeier, Walmart's U.S. Senior Vice President of Energy, said the agreement supports the company's expansion in Illinois while aligning with its approach of delivering affordable, dependable and clean energy for both its business and the communities it serves.

The Constellation agreement supports Walmart's wider sustainability ambitions. According to the company's fiscal year 2025 ESG report, Walmart aims to achieve net-zero emissions across its global operations, including Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, by 2040. As part of that journey, the retailer has set interim goals of sourcing 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2025 and operating entirely on renewable electricity by 2035.

The report also noted that renewable energy accounted for 48.5% of Walmart's global electricity consumption in 2024, while renewable energy contracts supplied 30.6% of its electricity needs.

For Constellation, the agreement reinforces the growing role of nuclear power in supporting corporate sustainability goals. The company said Walmart's commitment will help fund continued investment at the Dresden Clean Energy Center, supporting long-term plant operations, grid reliability and local economic activity while delivering additional emissions-free electricity to Illinois.

Constellation recently secured renewed operating licenses for Dresden's generating units, allowing them to continue running through 2049 and 2051.

Jim McHugh, Chief Commercial Officer at Constellation, said Walmart's long-term commitment enables meaningful investment in the facility and helps strengthen energy reliability while expanding access to dependable, carbon-free electricity.

The latest agreement follows another major nuclear energy partnership signed by Constellation last year with Meta, which will help keep the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois operating for another two decades.

Demand for nuclear electricity among large companies continues to grow. According to a March report from the Corporate Energy Buyers Association, businesses announced procurement of approximately 5.1 gigawatts of nuclear energy in 2025, more than doubling the 2.2 gigawatts secured in 2024.

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The report said companies are increasingly adding firm clean energy technologies, including nuclear power, geothermal, hydropower, fusion and carbon capture, to their energy portfolios as they seek dependable, around-the-clock electricity to complement renewable sources and support long-term decarbonization goals.

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Source: ESGDIVE