US building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China in AI boom, analysis finds
Summary
The United States is building twice as much new gas-powered electricity capacity as China, mainly to support a rapid increase in artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. This expansion could lead to more pollution and higher energy costs, while also facing growing local opposition due to environmental and resource concerns.Key Facts
- The US is constructing twice the gas-fired power capacity compared to China, with a 76% increase in new projects in early 2024.
- Gas power development in the US grew from 252 gigawatts (GW) to 378 GW since January, about one-third of the world’s total.
- Around half of this new capacity is connected to new data centers that require large amounts of electricity to run AI technology.
- Using gas, a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change, risks increasing US power emissions by up to 20%.
- The Trump administration has removed some environmental rules to speed up building new data centers, aiming to support AI growth.
- Many AI data centers are planned in drought-affected areas, raising concerns about water shortages.
- Public opposition to data centers is increasing, with many cities and states imposing restrictions or bans on construction.
- Some companies are using less efficient gas turbines because the most efficient ones are backlogged, leading to more pollution.
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