# Three Mile Island Restarts as Crane Clean Energy Center

> Source: [https://botensten.com/articles/three-mile-island-crane-restart](https://botensten.com/articles/three-mile-island-crane-restart) (canonical)
> Author: iCharles News — Botensten, https://botensten.com
> Published: 2026-06-09

## TL;DR

Constellation Energy is restarting the former Three Mile Island Unit 1 in Pennsylvania, now renamed the Crane Clean Energy Center, with a target operational date in the second half of 2027. The project costs approximately $1.6 billion and is anchored by a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, which will receive around 835 megawatts of output for its data centers. A regulatory decision on the restart is expected in early June 2026.

## What is the Crane Clean Energy Center?

The Crane Clean Energy Center is the new name for the Three Mile Island site in Pennsylvania. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the name change in May 2025. The facility is distinct from the reactor involved in the 1979 partial meltdown — that unit remains permanently offline.

## Who is behind the restart, and what does it cost?

Constellation Energy is leading the restart of the facility, previously known as Three Mile Island Unit 1. According to [Value The Markets](https://www.valuethemarkets.com/cryptocurrency/news/the-return-of-three-mile-island-a-second-chance-for-nuclear-energy), the project carries a price tag of approximately $1.6 billion.

The reactor was originally shut down in September 2019 for economic reasons after more than 40 years of operation.

## What is Microsoft's role?

Microsoft has committed to a 20-year power purchase agreement with Constellation Energy. Under that deal, the roughly 835 megawatts produced by the facility will supply Microsoft's expanding data centers, as [reported by Value The Markets](https://www.valuethemarkets.com/cryptocurrency/news/the-return-of-three-mile-island-a-second-chance-for-nuclear-energy).

## When will regulators decide?

A decision from regulators on the restart is expected early in June 2026. The targeted operational date for the Crane Clean Energy Center is the second half of 2027.

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## Frequently asked questions

**Is the Crane Clean Energy Center the same reactor involved in the 1979 Three Mile Island accident?**

No. The unit being restarted is Three Mile Island Unit 1, which is separate from the reactor involved in the 1979 partial meltdown. That reactor remains permanently offline.

**When is the Crane Clean Energy Center expected to be operational?**

Constellation Energy has set a targeted operational date in the second half of 2027, with a regulatory decision expected early in June 2026.

**How much energy will the restarted facility produce, and who will use it?**

The facility is expected to produce around 835 megawatts, all of which will go to Microsoft under a 20-year power purchase agreement to supply its data centers.