US Experiences Increased Growth in Gas-Powered Electricity as AI Buildout Accelerates

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way the United States produces electricity. As technology companies race to build large data centers capable of supporting AI systems, demand for reliable power has increased sharply. This has encouraged a major expansion of gas-fired power projects across the country. 

A new analysis by Global Energy Monitor shows that the U.S. is now building twice as much gas-fired electricity capacity as China. This marks a major change from previous years, when China consistently added more gas-powered generation than the U.S. 

The increase has been closely linked to the rapid construction of data centers. AI systems require large amounts of electricity to operate, and technology companies are investing heavily in new facilities to meet growing demand. Around half of the new gas-powered capacity being developed in the U.S. is connected to planned data centers. 

Gas power projects currently under construction in the U.S. increased by 76% during the first half of 2026. Overall gas capacity in development also rose by 50%, increasing from 252 gigawatts to 378 gigawatts. If all the proposed projects are completed, the country’s gas-powered electricity fleet could grow by about two-thirds. 

The expansion could require more than $647 billion in investment. While gas plants can provide dependable electricity, their increased use has raised concerns about the environmental impact of powering the AI industry with fossil fuels. 

Natural gas produces fewer emissions than coal, but it is still a fossil fuel and contributes to climate change. One estimate cited in the report suggests that new gas plants serving data centers could increase U.S. power-sector emissions by as much as 20%. 

The AI boom has also created pressure on the supply of gas turbines. Demand from companies such as Google, OpenAI and Amazon has contributed to a backlog of the most efficient turbines. As a result, some companies have turned to smaller and less-efficient equipment, which can produce more pollution. 

At the same time, opposition to data centers is growing in some American communities. Residents and local officials have raised concerns about higher electricity bills, water consumption, environmental damage and tax incentives given to technology companies. Many planned data centers are also located in areas already facing water shortages. 

Despite these concerns, the Trump administration continues to support rapid data-center development. President Donald Trump has argued that such facilities can create jobs and bring significant tax revenue to local communities. The administration has also moved to reduce environmental reviews to speed up construction. 

The development also highlights a changing energy relationship between the U.S. and China. While China remains the world’s largest carbon emitter, it has rapidly expanded clean-energy production. Meanwhile, the U.S. is increasing its dependence on gas to support its growing AI economy. 

For downstream AI firms like AI Maverick Intel Inc. (OTC: AIMV), the difficult choice between expedited data center construction and environmental preservation through careful energy source selection doesn’t exist because they rely on established AI facilities to run their operations. 

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