Data Centers Are Driving an Alarming Gas Power Expansion in the US

U.S. data center gas-fired capacity will increase from 97 GW at the end of 2025 to more than 189 GW by mid-2026, almost doubling in under a year. Operators are installing behind-the-meter plants to bypass grid delays, often using inefficient turbines that emit higher greenhouse-gas levels than several small countries. This growth places the United States ahead of China in total gas-project pipelines, while Chinese data centers are shifting toward renewable energy sources.