US Data Center Boom Nearly Doubles Gas-Fired Power Pipeline in Six Months
New research from Global Energy Monitor shows that gas-fired power capacity dedicated to US data centers has surged from 97 gigawatts to over 189 gigawatts between early 2026 and mid-2026. Tech companies are increasingly building private, behind-the-meter plants to avoid grid connection delays, a move encouraged by the Trump administration. This rapid expansion relies heavily on inefficient turbines, raising significant climate concerns due to elevated greenhouse gas emissions.
The 189-gigawatt pipeline represents a roughly 45-fold increase from the 4 gigawatts tracked in early 2024, showing how quickly AI infrastructure has reshaped energy planning. Behind-the-meter plants let companies bypass interconnection queues, though the turbines used are often less efficient than modern combined-cycle units, raising per-unit emissions.
China's approach differs markedly, with data centers sited near surplus solar and hydropower in rural regions. The Brookings Institution notes this reflects a deliberate government strategy toward energy independence, even as China remains the world's largest natural gas importer for industrial uses like fertilizer and plastics production.
The rapid gas buildout could lock in decades of fossil fuel dependence just as climate targets demand rapid decarbonization. Communities near these plants may face elevated local emissions and health impacts, while ratepayers could be shielded from costs but lose out on grid investments. The divergence between US and Chinese approaches may reshape global energy markets and technology competitiveness, though the long-term economic and environmental consequences remain uncertain.