Data Centers Fuel Gas Use, Threatening Climate Goals

Electric utilities in Washington and Oregon are increasingly turning to natural gas to power the rapid growth of data centers, according to recent analyses. This shift means more gas-powered energy infrastructure is being built or purchased, jeopardizing the states' established emission reduction targets for combating global warming.

Researchers highlight that utilities are using the demand from data centers to justify exemptions from climate rules that mostly ban new gas infrastructure. This is often cited as a necessity for regional energy reliability, a concern amplified by the massive energy needs of these facilities.

Companies like Amazon and Microsoft state their commitment to renewable energy and efficiency, with initiatives to power data centers cleanly. However, the analyses indicate that the increased demand is still leading to greater reliance on gas, potentially delaying climate goals by several years.

Some utilities are absorbing new data center loads by purchasing more "unspecified power," which is often natural gas or coal. Despite prohibitions, exemptions exist for reliability or cost reasons, and in some counties, public utility districts are approving new gas-powered generators for data centers.