The capacity of gas-fired power plants currently being planned to supply power to US data centers nearly doubled in the first half of 2026.
A new study from Global Energy Monitor counted 189 gigawatts of gas-fired capacity in development in the first half of 2026. But it remains unclear if all of those plants will ultimately be built, since most projects are in early development and the demand surge has led to a bottleneck for gas turbines, with some suppliers warning of yearslong lead times.
The buildout could also be affected by the growing political backlash to data centers, which is increasingly bipartisan. A Heatmap poll showed 75% of US voters oppose new data centers in their area. Texas — which the report highlights is the epicenter of the gas boom — has recently backtracked on its welcoming stance towards data centers and passed a moratorium on new projects.
