BloombergNEF: Data center gas plants to increase US power emissions 10%

BloombergNEF projects that gas-fired power plants built to serve data centers will raise U.S. power-sector emissions by 10%, underscoring the energy intensity of the AI and cloud buildout. The forecast ties rising electricity demand from data center operators to a growing reliance on natural gas generation, reversing part of the emissions decline the U.S. power sector had recorded in recent years. The report warns that the increase could invite stricter regulation and reshape energy policy debates as policymakers weigh grid reliability against decarbonization goals. The finding matters for crypto miners and data center operators competing for the same power supply, since tighter emissions rules could raise electricity costs or complicate siting in gas-dependent regions. What to watch next is whether regulators move to curb gas plant construction or impose emissions limits, and how utilities and large power buyers respond as data center demand continues to climb.