It’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centers
Global development of new gas power plants is surging, driven largely by the energy demands of data centers, especially in the US.Summary
The US is leading a global surge in the development of new gas power plants, primarily to meet the escalating energy demands of data centers, particularly those supporting generative AI. Global gas-fired power generation planned for development rose by 31 percent in 2025, with the US accounting for nearly a quarter of that new capacity, surpassing China. Over a third of this US growth is directly linked to powering data centers, according to Global Energy Monitor (GEM). While gas is currently cheaper and less polluting than coal when burned, this rapid expansion risks locking in future emissions and creating stranded assets if AI demand projections do not materialize. Furthermore, ramping up gas generation is a significant pivot away from global climate goals established in the Paris agreement, which necessitate transitioning to renewables and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The report notes that the US, the world's top gas producer, nearly tripled its planned gas-fired capacity last year, with former President Trump's policies actively prioritizing new fossil fuel infrastructure for data centers.
(Source：The Verge)