Ai data centers turn to natural gas as power demand soars, threatening climate goals

The artificial intelligence boom is driving a massive surge in natural gas-powered data centers across the United States, potentially undermining climate commitments as tech companies scramble to meet unprecedented energy demands. With traditional power grids unable to keep pace with AI’s voracious electricity appetite, developers are increasingly turning to on-site fossil fuel generation, creating what experts warn could be a climate disaster in the making.

Companies are getting creative with their power solutions—sometimes in surprising ways. Boom Supersonic, known for developing supersonic aircraft engines, recently signed a $1.25 billion deal to provide 29 jet-engine gas turbines for OpenAI data centers. Meanwhile, Meta’s Texas facility will rely on over 800 mobile mini-turbines, and massive projects like the 1.2-gigawatt Stargate campus in Abilene are sprouting across the country. Globally, more than 1,000 gigawatts of new gas-fired power projects are now in development—a 31% jump in just one year.

The environmental implications are staggering. Cornell University researchers estimate this buildout could add 44 million metric tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2030, equivalent to emissions from 10 million cars. Many of these improvised power solutions are actually worse for the climate than traditional power plants, as they use less efficient engines and turbines that produce more emissions per unit of electricity generated.

Texas leads this fossil fuel rush with nearly 58 gigawatts of planned natural gas capacity—more than the next four states combined. The trend raises serious questions about whether the AI revolution’s promise of technological progress is worth its potential climate costs.