AI's arrival complicates Big Tech climate goals, and some worry it's locking in more fossil fuels

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is complicating major tech companies' ambitious climate goals, prompting a re-evaluation of their commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Google and Microsoft, among others, had aimed for significant carbon reductions and clean energy reliance by 2030, but now acknowledge these targets are challenging due to the surging power demands of sprawling data centers. Patrick Huang, a senior analyst at Wood Mackenzie, notes that companies are increasingly resorting to natural gas to ensure competitiveness, leading to a rise in overall emissions. Data centers consumed approximately 4.6% of total U.S. electricity in 2024, a share projected to nearly triple by 2028, contributing significantly to a potential 20% increase in national electricity use over the next decade. This demand is prompting utilities to plan new natural gas plants across the country, with some tech companies even planning on-site gas facilities to directly power their data centers. Examples include natural gas plants set to power a Microsoft data center in Wisconsin and a Meta data center in rural Louisiana, as well as Google's plan to purchase electricity from a new gas plant in Decatur, Illinois. Adding to the complexity are federal policy shifts, including actions by the Trump administration to hinder renewable energy development by canceling grants, permits, and tax breaks, while also advocating for the continued operation of coal-fired power plants. Julie McNamara, associate policy director at Union of Concerned Scientists’ Climate & Energy program, warns that these factors combined are creating a severe