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New Gas-Powered Data Centers Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Whole Nations

New Gas-Powered Data Centers Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Entire Nations

wired.com

April 28, 2026

12 min read

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49/100

Summary

New gas projects for 11 data center campuses in the US could emit over 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, surpassing the emissions of Morocco in 2024. These projects are designed to power data centers for major AI companies, including OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and xAI.

Key Takeaways

New gas projects linked to 11 data center campuses in the US could emit over 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, surpassing the emissions of Morocco in 2024.
xAI's gas turbines at its data center campuses in Memphis and Southaven could generate more than 6.4 million tons of CO2 equivalents each per year, equivalent to emissions from over 30 average-size natural gas plants.
Microsoft is considering a power purchase from a Chevron-backed natural gas project in West Texas, which could emit over 11.5 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, exceeding Jamaica's total yearly emissions.
The trend of developing behind-the-meter power for data centers is accelerating emissions, as companies seek to bypass traditional utility grids amid public resistance to rising energy costs.

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Community Sentiment

Negative

Positives

AI data center investments are seen as a bet on increasing labor productivity, which could lead to a decrease in carbon intensity if managed correctly.
The potential for AI to utilize intermittent energy sources effectively could optimize energy consumption and reduce overall emissions.

Concerns

Gas-powered data centers are criticized for potentially emitting more greenhouse gases than entire countries, raising serious environmental concerns.
There is skepticism about the assumption that increased productivity from AI will lead to lower carbon emissions, as it may instead result in greater exploitation and pollution.
The current energy policies and reliance on fossil fuels for data centers are viewed as dystopian, especially compared to investments in renewable energy in other countries.