Get the latest tech news

Is the AI Boom Leading to More Natural Gas-Powered Utilities?


New power plants burning natural gas are being built all across America, reports the Washington Post, calling it a gas boom "driven in large part by AI." They blame tech companies like Microsoft and Meta — which "looked to gas amid a shortage of adequate new clean energy" — while notin...

They are often pitched as a bridge until more clean power is available, sometimes with promises the plants will eventually be equipped with nascent technology that traps greenhouse gas emissions. Microsoft is battling with environmental groups over its plans to build a multibillion-dollar data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, powered with electricity from natural gas. American Petroleum Institute President Mike Sommers (who represents the oil and gas industry in Washington), said "The words that have replaced 'energy transition' are 'AI' and 'data centers'.

Get the Android app

Or read this on Slashdot

Read more on:

Photo of AI boom

AI boom

Photo of natural gas

natural gas

Photo of powered utilities

powered utilities

Related news:

News photo

Solar crushed 2024, but emissions were up as industry used more natural gas

News photo

Top US Grid Wins Speedy Review of Power Plants to Feed AI Boom

News photo

Energy Transfer to Supply Natural Gas to AI Data Center in Texas