Jenny Martos reports a 76% surge in US gas-fired power projects driven by the artificial intelligence boom.
The United States has surpassed China in the construction of new gas-fired power generation, marking a significant shift in global energy trends. According to a report by Global Energy Monitor, the US is now building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China, following a 76% increase in under-construction projects in the first half of this year. Jenny Martos, a project manager at Global Energy Monitor, noted that the surge is primarily driven by the demand for electricity to power upcoming datacenters for artificial intelligence. While gas is a fossil fuel, the administration announced that the demolition of environmental regulations and the elimination of environmental reviews were necessary to speed up construction. President Trump has championed the building of new datacenters, stating that they could be bigger than oil and provide significant tax revenue and jobs for communities that host them.