AI’s hunger for power sparks US private gas plant boom

As the AI boom continues to accelerate, tech companies are increasingly constructing their own power plants to support data centers that operate off the grid and run on gas. According to analysis shared with AFP by Cleanview, a research firm, there are around 60 data centers planned for construction in the coming years, with a combined generation capacity of 97 gigawatts.

This capacity is nearly equivalent to the total installed capacity of Mexico. The potential climate impact could be enormous, with emissions ranging up to 200 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the emissions of over 46 million gasoline-powered cars. One of the latest additions to this tally is a 7.5 GW plant in Texas that is set to power Amazon data centers.

The development of these gas plants brings forth concerns regarding their efficiency and the pollutants they emit, such as fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and hazardous air pollutants. John Rogers, associate director of energy analytics at the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed worry that these plants could worsen climate change and pose health risks to local communities.

Critics also point out that these gas plants provide less public accountability compared to traditional power sources. The practice of building behind-the-meter power plants began with Elon Musk's initiative to bring mobile gas turbines to an xAI data center in Memphis in 2024. However, Cleanview's analysis reveals that nearly all major hyperscalers, including Meta, Microsoft, and Oracle, are pursuing similar projects.

Some AI labs, such as OpenAI and Anthropic, have already signed leases for over 10 gigawatts of behind-the-meter power. The trend is particularly prominent in Republican-leaning states, with Texas leading the way with over 40 gigawatts announced. The NAACP civil rights group has filed a lawsuit against xAI for operating turbines in Mississippi to power its Memphis data center.