Report: 177GW of planned gas plants to power US AI data centers, ~80% gas-fired
AINowInstitute · x · 2026-10-29
A report by Earthjustice and the Better Data Center Project examines the "Bring Your Own Power" (BYOP) trend.
- As of mid-2026 the US has over 300GW of AI data center capacity planned or under construction, versus a 2025 peak demand of 760GW.
- To bypass grid queues, developers are building dedicated power plants; 80% of BYOP capacity coming online in five years will be gas-fired.
- The report identifies 177GW of planned gas capacity—23% of the entire US peak demand, enough to power 65% of US homes.
- These plants evade regulation, harm nearby communities and the climate, and won't fix rising energy bills.
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