US Developing Three Times More Gas Power Than China Due to Data Centers

The United States is developing nearly three times the amount of gas-fired power capacity compared to China, primarily driven by the rapid expansion of data centers, according to a new report from Global Energy Monitor. The US has 189 gigawatts (GW) of gas power under development specifically planned for data centers.

This figure represents a near doubling in just the first half of 2026 for data center-related gas power development in the US. The report, which tracks energy infrastructure, notes that the US has also seen a 50% overall increase in gas power projects under development, reaching 378 GW.

Texas alone accounts for a substantial portion of this growth, with 122 GW of gas-fired capacity in development, nearly two-thirds of which (77 GW) is earmarked for data centers. Globally, the US is now the largest builder of gas power under construction, surpassing China. When including announced and preconstruction projects, the US leads significantly.

While China is also experiencing a boom in data centers driven by AI, it is primarily powering them with renewable energy sources like solar and wind. Mandates in China require at least 80% of electricity for large data center hubs to come from clean energy. In the US, while renewables are used, natural gas remains the dominant source for new data center power.

The report cautions that not all planned gas projects may come to fruition. Growing opposition to data centers, supply chain constraints, and financing challenges could impact project viability. Global Energy Monitor highlights that two-thirds of global gas capacity under development and over half of data center-specific projects have not yet named a turbine or engine manufacturer.