The growing dependence of our economy on digital technology and data has unintended implications, not just for businesses, but also for the environment. Across the United States, a building spree is underway, but it doesn’t involve towers or skyscrapers. Instead, it includes a new wave of gas-fired power plants, driven primarily by the rapidly expanding footprint of data centers. Imagine this: Enormous gas turbines are being installed at the Stargate AI data center in Abilene, Texas, to power the facility directly.
A recent report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) offers some surprising statistics. It suggests that globally, gas-fired power generation in development grew by a notable 31 percent in 2025. The United States is spearheading this expansion, accounting for nearly a quarter of the increased capacity. The sharp spike in figures is startling: over one-third of this growth in the US is projected to be fed to the data centers.
But as the wheels of the digital economy spin faster, the carbon footprint correspondingly widens. Even though natural gas is often touted as a cleaner alternative to coal, it remains a fossil fuel. Every molecule consumed releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. With more gas plants poised to support technological infrastructure, the concern is that this surge could severely hinder efforts towards achieving climate goals. A blunt but effective summary could be: “More gas means more planet-heating pollution.”
The relentless innovation in AI and cloud computing is, quite literally, on a power trip. The race to provide reliable energy to these tech juggernauts often struggles against another pressing concern—the urgent need to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy resources like solar and wind offer promising alternatives, but these are yet to satisfy the hefty and ever-present power demands of the modern data centers
Consequently, companies and utilities are veering towards natural gas, perceived as a temporary yet necessary concession. However, this solution may have long-term environmental consequences. At this juncture, we’re forced to inspect the balance scales—weighing the immediate benefits of energy reliability against the grave, lingering risks tied to climate change.
Looking ahead, the road map demands innovative ventures in not merely what we compute but how we power it. With the US asserting its dominance in gas-power development, a careful assessment of short-term gains in contrast to the potential climate impact is paramount. The Full story on this growing trend can be found here.
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