AI's Hunger for Power Sparks US Private Gas Plant Boom

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is driving a surge in the construction of private, gas-fired power plants in the United States, as tech companies race to secure electricity for their data centers. These facilities, often built "behind the meter" and off the traditional power grid, aim to bring data centers online faster.

Analysis by the research firm Cleanview identifies approximately 60 data centers planned in the coming years, requiring a combined 97 gigawatts of generation capacity by the early 2030s. This is comparable to the total installed power capacity of Mexico. The climate implications are substantial, with conservative estimates suggesting these plants could emit over 200 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, mirroring the emissions of more than 46 million gasoline-powered cars.

Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, these gas plants release harmful pollutants such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, mercury, formaldehyde, and benzene. John Rogers of the Union of Concerned Scientists criticized the practice, stating, "Powering data centers with behind-the-meter generation that relies heavily on dirty gas or diesel turbines is a surefire way to needlessly pump a variety of hazardous pollutants into local communities' air while worsening climate change."

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Powering data centers with behind-the-meter generation that relies heavily on dirty gas or diesel turbines is a surefire way to needlessly pump a variety of hazardous pollutants into local communities' air while worsening climate change.

Yuqi Zhu, a senior policy analyst at the Natural Resources Defense Council, added that these "dirty plants, which are also subject to less public accountability, are unacceptable when record heat and fires are showing us that we need to change course." The trend, initially an anomaly exemplified by Elon Musk's xAI data center, now involves nearly every major tech company, including Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle. AI labs like OpenAI and Anthropic are also leasing significant amounts of behind-the-meter power.

Instead of relying on standard utility equipment, these companies are turning to more unconventional and polluting options, such as trailer-mounted generators and turbines designed for aircraft and warships. Development is concentrated in Republican-leaning states, with Texas leading the charge. The NAACP has also raised concerns regarding the environmental justice implications of these projects.

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These dirty plants, which are also subject to less public accountability, are unacceptable when record heat and fires are showing us that we need to change course.