Key facts
- 74 planned gas-fired power plants for U.S. data centers could emit 662 million tons of greenhouse gas annually.
- These 'behind the meter' projects bypass typical permitting and environmental review processes.
- The estimated annual emissions rival those of countries like Australia or France.
- Texas is slated to host nearly half of the planned plants.
- Environmental groups warn of public health risks from pollutants and reliance on fossil fuels.
Dozens of planned gas-fired power plants intended to directly supply electricity to U.S. data centers could collectively emit as much greenhouse gas annually as Australia or France, according to a report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP).
The EIP reviewed 74 proposed gas plant projects that would operate "behind the meter," meaning they would supply power directly to data centers without connecting to the main U.S. electric grid. The report estimated these plants would have a combined generation capacity of 143 gigawatts and result in approximately 662 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
These off-grid projects are reportedly gaining rapid approval across the U.S., often bypassing the years of permitting, environmental studies, and public hearings typically required for grid-connected facilities. Developers argue that these private customer-focused plants are exempt from many regulations.
The scale of the projected emissions from these data center power plants rivals that of major economies. The EIP also highlighted public health risks to nearby communities due to the release of pollutants such as nitrous oxide (NOx) and benzene.
Jen Duggan, executive director of EIP, stated that an industry of the future should not rely on "dirty fuels of the past" and the associated air pollution that harms communities.
Geographically, nearly half of the 74 identified plants are planned for Texas, with significant numbers also proposed for Ohio (10), Pennsylvania (six), and West Virginia (four).
Previous Trump administration officials had advocated for the rapid construction of data centers, viewing it as a national security and economic imperative. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin commented on the race to be the AI capital of the world.
A recent poll indicated that only one in three Americans approve of the current pace of data center construction.