AI Boom Nearly Doubles Gas Power Projects for Data Centers in the U.S.

The announced capacity of gas power plants intended to supply energy directly to data centers in the United States surged from 97 GW at the end of 2025 to over 189 GW by mid-2026, according to updated data from Global Energy Monitor (GEM) reported by WIRED.

At the beginning of 2024, this figure was just above 4 GW. Thus, over a span of two and a half years, the volume of projects increased more than 40 times, and nearly doubled since the end of last year.

The statistics include announced projects, those in pre-construction phases, and plants that are currently under construction. GEM cautioned that a significant portion of the announced capacities may never become operational.

Data Centers Build Their Own Power Stations

This growth is partly attributed to the rise of the behind-the-meter model, where power plants are located near data centers, allowing them to bypass the overloaded grid. This setup enables developers to avoid waiting for connections to congested power systems, which can take years in some regions.

“The expansion of gas generation in the U.S. is increasingly linked to the construction of data centers — one cannot be discussed without the other,” stated GEM analyst Jenny Martos.

As of January, the organization reported that there were nearly 252 GW of total gas generation projects underway in the U.S., with over a third, approximately 97 GW, specifically designated for data centers.

If all the gas projects announced in January are completed, the installed capacity of such generation in the U.S. would increase by nearly 50%. GEM estimated that the necessary capital expenditures would exceed $416 billion.

The latest data indicates that the segment of the market connected to data centers continued to expand rapidly in the first half of 2026.

Government Supports Self-Generation for AI

The shift towards autonomous energy supply aligns with a change in White House policy. In March, Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI committed to build, acquire, or purchase new energy sources for their data centers and pay for the necessary grid infrastructure.

The aim of this initiative is to avoid passing the costs associated with the rising energy consumption from AI onto regular consumers. In July, the program was expanded to include utility companies, developers, and state authorities, with over 200 additional organizations joining, according to the White House.

Self-generation allows companies to activate their capacities more quickly. However, many of these projects in the U.S. are heavily reliant on natural gas.

Not All 189 GW Will Be Built

GEM urged not to interpret the 189 GW figure as a forecast for future installed capacity, as a significant number of projects are still in early stages. Their realization depends on funding, obtaining permits, local residents’ sentiments, and equipment availability.

A particular challenge lies in the shortage of gas turbines. In a January study, GEM analysts noted that the order backlogs for major manufacturers stretched to 2030. For about two-thirds of gas projects in the organization’s global database, no equipment manufacturer had been designated at that time.

“There remains a lot of uncertainty here: funding, local opposition, moratoriums, and turbine supply constraints,” Martos pointed out.

She emphasized that even if only a portion of the projects are realized, the long-term implications will be significant, as gas plants are typically designed for decades of operation.

U.S. and China Choose Different Energy Sources

The increase in gas generation allowed the U.S. to surpass China in total gas projects under development by the end of 2025. At that time, GEM evaluated the U.S. portfolio at 252 GW, compared to 153 GW for China.

WIRED highlights that the differences in approaches to energy supply for data centers are particularly noticeable. Chinese data centers are often located in areas with an abundance of solar and hydro energy. Brookings Institution researcher Kyle Chang linked this to governmental policies aimed at developing renewable generation and reducing energy dependence.

In contrast, in the U.S., gas allows for quicker access to a stable power source where grid connections are delayed. The downside of this approach includes increased emissions and the risk of creating infrastructure that may become redundant if the anticipated demand from AI does not materialize.

Texas Becomes the Hub of Gas Boom

The trend is especially prominent in Texas. In January, GEM reported that the state had 80.6 GW of gas capacity in development, with about 40 GW directly linked to powering data centers.

In July, some developers utilized streamlined procedures for approving their power plants. At that time, around 300 data centers were operational in the state, with another approximately 200 in development.

In August, it was reported that Amazon purchased land in Pecos County for a campus featuring its own gas power plant, GW Ranch, with a capacity of 7.65 GW. The project entails installing 35 turbines, and Amazon plans to rely on self-generation until it can connect to the main power grid.