New Gas-Powered Data Centres Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Entire Nations

A WIRED investigation into air permit documents for 11 data center campuses across the United States reveals that these natural gas-powered projects, designed to serve major AI companies, could collectively emit more than 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, surpassing the emissions of countries like Morocco or Norway. These facilities utilize "behind-the-meter" power generation, allowing developers to bypass grid connection delays and public resistance to higher energy costs. Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview, described this as a "crazy acceleration of emissions." Prominent examples include xAI's Colossus campuses in Memphis, Tennessee, and Southaven, Mississippi, which faced community protests and a lawsuit from the NAACP over air pollution concerns, despite EPA approval for the turbines. Microsoft is reportedly considering a Chevron-backed gas project in West Texas, while Meta is linked to three gas projects in Ohio and an agreement with Entergy in Louisiana. Other significant developments include the Stargate Project (affiliated with OpenAI) across multiple states, Fermi's massive campus in Amarillo, Texas, and Pacifico Energy's project near Fort Stockton, Texas, all with substantial projected emissions. While companies like OpenAI, Meta, and Oracle state commitments to carbon-free energy, they acknowledge the interim reliance on natural gas. Oracle, for instance, mentioned an ongoing permit modification to significantly lower emissions for its Project Jupiter in New Mexico. However, experts like Jon Koomey suggest that data center power plants might operate closer to their permitted maximums than traditional grid-connected plants, exacerbating the environmental impact, further compounded by a shortage of efficient gas turbines. Despite uncertainties regarding the construction of all proposed facilities, the rapid acceleration of behind-the-meter gas power for data centers presents a lasting and worrying trend for global climate goals, prompting concerns from environmental groups and questioning by Senate Democrats to leading tech companies.