Texas data center boom will bring huge emissions spike, group warns
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project warns that the Texas data center boom, fueled by dozens of planned natural gas power plants, could lead to a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions. These plants, often "behind-the-meter," are being developed to bypass grid strain but are projected to emit more greenhouse gases than all Texas households combined. The report advocates for data centers to be powered by clean energy to avoid significant public health and environmental impacts.
A new report by the Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), an environmental nonprofit, warns that the rapid expansion of data centers in Texas could lead to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. The report identified 74 gas-powered plants under development across the U.S. to serve data centers, with nearly half of them located in Texas. These plants, many operating "behind-the-meter" to directly power data centers and bypass the main grid, are projected to emit over 287 million tons of greenhouse gases annually – equivalent to 61 million gas-powered cars.
EIP's executive director, Jen Duggan, highlighted the alarming potential public health and environmental impacts, advocating for data centers to transition to clean energy sources like solar and wind. The report noted that data center developers are increasingly opting for on-site natural gas generation to circumvent long queues with ERCOT, the state’s grid operator. This approach has been encouraged by state leaders and even former President Donald Trump to minimize rate increases and grid strain.
Among the projects cited, Project Matador by Fermi America, co-founded by former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, plans an 18-million-square-foot data center outside Amarillo requiring 17 gigawatts of electricity from a behind-the-meter plant. Kendra Seawright of Panhandle 1st Coalition, a group opposing the Fermi America project, criticized the massive power consumption. Another project, the Pecos Power Generation facility in West Texas, sought funding from the Texas Energy Fund. Researchers emphasized that behind-the-meter plants may avoid the regulatory scrutiny typically applied to grid-connected power plants, raising concerns about potential environmental oversight gaps.