Texas Data Centers Fuel Gas Power Frenzy

In Texas, a substantial increase in planned gas power projects is underway, with the twelve largest facilities earmarked for data center operations. This surge has led to a 50% growth in planned gas power generation within the last six months, a rate exceeding that of any other country.

Permitting documents reveal that a few major projects in Texas could collectively emit over 100 million tons of greenhouse gases per year. This volume is comparable to the annual emissions of a midsize industrialized nation and is expected to involve tens of thousands of tons of additional pollutants.

Developers are increasingly opting for smaller, less efficient, and more polluting gas turbines and engines due to global supply chain backlogs for combined-cycle plants. These simpler technologies allow for quicker deployment to meet the dynamic power demands of data centers.

Governor Greg Abbott has urged data center developers to construct their own power plants to alleviate strain on the state's electrical grid. He also announced a temporary pause on new data center proposals following public outcry over their rapid expansion and associated environmental impacts.