Nearl 900 new data center construction projects are currently underway in the United States, according to the Cleanview platform. Together, they represent a capacity close to 300,000 megawatts (MW), compared to the current 17,000 MW total for 600 operational data centers.
The gas power plants being authorized to power these data centers could release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than Jordan, Croatia, or Costa Rica.
In Amarillo, Texas, Fermi America plans to build what they claim to be the “world’s largest data center.”
Another project, named “Matador” or “President Donald Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus” in company documents, is a mega-complex with a target capacity of 17 GW.
If built, the greenhouse gas emissions from powering these processors and facilities could exceed 40 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually.
While renewable energy sources provide over a quarter (27%) of the electricity consumed by data centers globally, delays in deploying new capacities are leading some companies to consider building gas-specific capabilities to ensure their power supply.
One popular solution involves the installation of smaller gas turbines than those in traditional power plants directly on data center sites.
These turbines emit more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity produced than traditional combined-cycle power plants.
GE Vernova, an energy company, has seen a 60% increase in demand for gas turbines in one year from data center AI companies, along with a nearly twofold increase in orders for substations, switching gear, and transformers.
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