US data center gas power pipeline hits 189 GW, surpassing China
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US gas-fired power capacity in development for data centers reached 189 gigawatts by mid-2026, nearly doubling from 97 GW at end-2025, according to Global Energy Monitor. The surge has pushed the US past China as the country with the most gas projects in the pipeline. The buildout is increasingly tied to private behind-the-meter plants as tech companies bypass grid queues.
Key Facts
- US gas-fired capacity in development for data centers reached 189 GW by mid-2026, up from 97 GW at end-2025 and 4 GW in early 2024, according to Global Energy Monitor.
- The US has surpassed China as the country with the most gas power projects in the pipeline, Global Energy Monitor reported.
- Tech companies including Microsoft, Meta, Google, and OpenAI have signed a voluntary pledge to bring their own power to data centers.
- Many of the new gas plants are being built with inefficient turbines that can increase greenhouse gas emissions, with some permitted to emit more annually than many small and medium-sized countries.
Data Center Gas Demand
Global Energy Monitor tracked 189 gigawatts of gas-fired power projects in development exclusively for data centers in the US as of mid-2026. That figure nearly doubled from 97 GW at the end of 2025 and represented a massive increase from just 4 GW in early 2024. A gigawatt can power roughly a million homes, according to the research firm. Jenny Martos, a research analyst at Global Energy Monitor, said the US gas power buildout is increasingly tied directly to the data center buildout.
Behind-the-Meter Shift
Data center builders have increasingly turned to private power facilities known as behind-the-meter plants to bypass lengthy grid connection times. This approach can potentially help avoid saddling ratepayers with higher bills, an issue that has become a flashpoint as data center opposition mounts around the country. The Trump administration has encouraged tech companies to bring their own power, introducing a voluntary pledge signed by Microsoft, Meta, Google, OpenAI, several Republican governors, and some of the country's biggest utilities.
Climate and Global Comparison
Adding that much natural gas power comes with a hefty climate cost, particularly because many of the facilities are being built with inefficient turbines that can increase emissions. Some of these gas plants are permitted to emit more greenhouse gases each year than many small- and medium-sized countries, as WIRED has reported. Global Energy Monitor also tracks energy projects in countries around the world, including China, the world's largest importer of natural gas. China has seen a surge in gas-fired facilities under development in recent years, but the data center boom means the US has again surpassed China as the country with the most gas projects in the pipeline.
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US data center gas power pipeline hits 189 GW, surpassing China
