The U.S. has overtaken China in new gas-fired power plant construction, driven largely by a surge in AI data center development. According to a report, the buildout could also significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions if the proposed gas projects are completed.
The U.S. has seen a 76% increase in gas-fired power projects under construction in the first half of this year. Previously, China’s rapid economic growth had led it to surpass America in new gas power generation. However, the recent AI boom has reversed this trend. The U.S. is now building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China and more than any other country globally, according to a new report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) on Tuesday.
Since January, the total gas power capacity under development in the U.S. has increased by 50%, from 252GW to 378GW. If all these projects are completed, the U.S. will expand its gas fleet by approximately two-thirds, costing over $647 billion, as per Gem’s findings. This reliance on gas, a fossil fuel, instead of renewables, could potentially increase US power emissions by up to 20%.
Jenny Martos, a project manager at GEM, said, “Six months ago, China had more gas plants under construction, but that has now flipped. Building all of this gas for AI locks in decades of pollution, and it is also locking in dependence on a volatile fuel cost, which will get passed down to rate payers.”
