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Climate·P Space·Evidence-backed problem·Published 2026-07-12

US leads record global surge in gas-fired power driven by AI demands, with big costs for the climate

Abstract: The US is leading a huge global surge in new gas-fired power generation that will cause a major leap in planet-heating emissions, with this record boom driven by the expansion of energy-hungry datacenters to service artificial intelligence, according to a new forecast. This year is set to shatter the annual record for new gas power additions around the world, with projects in development expected to grow existing global gas capacity by nearly 50%, a report by Global Energy Monitor (GEM) found. The US is at the f…

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US leads record global surge in gas-fired power driven by AI demands, with big costs for the climate
The quick read

A new forecast from Global Energy Monitor finds 2026 is set to shatter the annual record for new gas power additions, with 252 gigawatts in development worldwide that would grow existing global gas capacity by nearly 50%. The US is leading the surge after tripling its planned gas-fired capacity in 2025, and about a third of the developing capacity is planned to be located on site at datacenters to serve artificial intelligence workloads.

The shift matters because gas plants built now would operate for decades, hard-wiring long-term pollution at a time when climate goals require reductions. The report frames the buildout as a gamble on uncertain AI energy demand that could instead be met with flexible, clean power, leaving open how much capacity will actually be built, where it will be sited, and whether cleaner alternatives will displace gas.

Main points
  • Projects in development expected to grow existing global gas capacity by nearly 50% according to Global Energy Monitor
  • A third of the 252 gigawatts of gas power in development set to be situated on site at datacenters
  • US tripled its planned gas-fired capacity in 2025 and is at the forefront of the global push over next five years
  • GEM project manager Jenny Martos said locking in new gas plants means hard-wiring decades of pollution that could be solved with flexible, clean power
Problem

Building new gas-fired power plants to meet electricity demand from AI datacenters is forecast to cause a major leap in planet-heating emissions and lock in decades of pollution.

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