Data Centers Are Driving a US Gas Boom

New research from Global Energy Monitor reveals that data centers have significantly driven the surge in demand for gas-fired power in the US over the past two years. More than one-third of this new gas demand is directly linked to powering data centers, equating to energy sufficient for tens of millions of homes. The US currently operates about 565 gigawatts of gas-fired power, and if all projects in the development pipeline—many intended for data centers—are completed, this capacity could increase by nearly 50 percent, adding roughly 252 gigawatts. Notably, the demand for gas power linked to data centers has skyrocketed from just over 4 gigawatts in early 2024 to more than 97 gigawatts in 2025. This rapid expansion occurs amid a political environment where the Trump administration has promoted data center construction while rolling back pollution regulations on power plants and fossil fuel extraction. The growth in gas-fired power infrastructure is likely to increase US greenhouse gas emissions, despite natural gas