Developers planning to supply power to AI-focused data centers increasingly rely on bespoke natural-gas plants, a shift that would increase carbon emissions from the U.S. power sector. Bloomberg and Fortune both report that the additional emissions impact could be on the order of roughly 20%.
The outlets describe how many projects are in the pipeline and emphasize the scale of new generation capacity tied to data-center growth. Fortune says there are 99 proposed gas plants that would be used to power AI data centers, with potential emissions increases that could reach as high as one-third depending on assumptions. Bloomberg frames the change as making it harder for technology companies to meet climate targets. Fortune also names large developers including Amazon and Microsoft, while Bloomberg focuses more broadly on the emissions implications of the gas-plant approach.
