Data centres are a type of data center. New research published Wednesday shows that the US has seen a dramatic increase in demand for natural gas power over the past 2 years. The research revealed that more than a third is directly linked to gas projects This will be the power data centers—the equivalent of energy that would power tens of millions of US homes.
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. findings from Global Energy Monitor, a San Francisco–based nonprofit that tracks oil and gas developments, come as the Trump administration is both encouraging data center build-out and doing away with pollution regulations on power plants and oil and gas extraction. Global Energy Monitor’s projects will almost certainly lead to an increase in US emissions of greenhouse gases, even if they never are built.
“The implications are huge when you’re talking about this size of a build-out,” Jonathan Banks is a senior adviser on climate change at Clean Air Task Force. This nonprofit works to reduce carbon emissions. Clean Air Task Force did not participate in Global Energy Monitor’s research.
Global Energy Monitor estimates that the US could have increased its gas fleet by 50 percent if it built all of the gas-fired infrastructure in development as late last year. According to Global Energy Monitor, the US could increase its gas fleet by nearly 50 percent. currently has Around 565 gigawatts gas-fired electricity is on the grid. The US would gain almost 252 gigawatts if all projects currently in development were built. Estimates vary but one gigawatt of gas power can provide enough energy to run up to 1 million homes depending on where you live.
Over the past two decades, the US has seen the gas-fired energy demand nearly triple. Global Energy Monitor released their tracker in early 2024 and recorded that around 85 gigawatts were in the pipeline for gas-fired energy in the US. Only a little over 4 gigawatts was specifically designated for data centres. But in 2025, more than 97 gigawatts of demand tracked were from projects that will be used to power data centers—almost 25 times higher than the 2024 figures.
“About a year and a half ago, we started to see this increase in proposals for data centers specifically,” Jenny Martos is a Global Energy Monitor research analyst who was involved in the production of this report.
Global Energy Monitor compiled the report by reviewing publicly-available data sources on the gas power expansions that are in pipeline. The data sources include air pollution permits and state regulatory filings. The group, according to Martos, compared their findings against industry data.
As the data center build-out continues across the country, developers are scrambling to secure power from any and all sources—and utilities are racing to meet the projected demand. The Trump Administration’s coal-friendly policy has allowed coal-fired plants to extend their retirement date.
Gas plants emit CO, even though natural gas is cleaner than coal.2 emissions. The newest information about emissions 35 percent of US energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022 Natural gas is the main source of energy.
“Gas is cleaner when burnt than coal, but when you’re talking about this much gas, you’re talking about a lot of CO2 associated with it, too,” Says Banks
Methane emissions during extraction are a greater concern. It is less likely that methane will stay in the air for as long as CO2But it’s not 80 times more potent over a 20 year period. Scientists say that reducing methane emission over the short term is critical to combating climate change on a long-term basis. The US accounts for about a third (or more) of global methane emissions. largest producer of natural gas in the world.
