GAS-POWERED DATA CENTERS COULD EMIT 129M TONS CO2 YEARLY

A WIRED investigation of data center permits shows major AI companies are planning facilities powered by natural gas, creating significant environmental concerns. The reviewed permits indicate these gas-powered centers could collectively emit more than 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually. For context, this exceeds the total annual emissions of countries like Greece, Portugal, and Hungary. The data centers are linked to four major tech firms: OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and xAI. As AI infrastructure demands grow, companies are increasingly turning to natural gas to power compute-intensive operations, citing energy reliability and cost considerations. The findings highlight a critical tension in AI development. While companies invest heavily in artificial intelligence capabilities, the infrastructure required generates substantial carbon emissions. Natural gas, though cleaner than coal, still produces significant greenhouse gases when burned at scale. The projects remain in permitting stages, offering a window for scrutiny and potential alternatives. Industry observers note that companies could explore renewable energy sources or carbon offset strategies to reduce environmental impact.