Anthropic Flags Gas Supply as One of Its Biggest Near-Term Risks
The data center buildout could cause a massive increase in gas prices as companies scramble for limited supplies and infrastructure fails to meet demand.
Anthropic, a prominent artificial intelligence company, has flagged natural gas supply as a significant risk to its operations in the near future. The surge in data center construction, driven by the growing demand for computing power, will likely increase the consumption of natural gas by data centers, according to energy analyst Cleanview.
The company estimates that behind-the-meter gas projects in development as of October 2026 could reach 110 gigawatts, up from just 20 gigawatts in July 2025. This trend is expected to be exacerbated by competition from other natural gas-fired data centers, which could lead to increased fuel prices and supply disruptions. Anthropic's IPO filing highlights the potential impact on its business, stating that "increased competition among users for the same natural gas supply and pipeline capacity in those areas could drive up the price of natural gas and adversely affect our ability to contract for firm fuel supply."
The company has been increasing its data center footprint through direct leasing and development, a strategy that exposes it to more risks, including natural gas price volatility and supply disruptions.
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