The surging electricity demand from AI data centers is driving a dramatic expansion of planned U.S. gas-fired generation, particularly in Texas. Major tech players like Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI are increasingly involved in massive dedicated power projects to secure electricity for AI infrastructure.
In the first half of 2026 alone, planned gas-fired power capacity tied to data centers nearly doubled as Big Tech turns to massive new power plants to support the insatiable demand of hyperscale data center campuses.
Amazon is currently building a gas-fired power plant in Texas that is set to become the single biggest source of power-related emissions in the entire United States if it’s developed according to current plans.
However, political pressures and social backlash could slow the data center and gas-power buildout.
