A surge in electricity demand from data centers, particularly those powering artificial intelligence, is driving a significant expansion of natural gas power plants in the United States. This trend marks a reversal from recent years of declining fossil fuel reliance for electricity generation. Utilities and power producers are planning dozens of new gas plants to ensure reliable, 24/7 power for the energy-intensive computing required by AI models and cloud services. While renewable energy sources are also expanding, they cannot yet meet the constant, high-capacity demand of data centers, making natural gas a preferred ‘bridge’ fuel for grid planners. This new construction raises concerns about increased carbon emissions and challenges to climate goals, even as the industry explores future carbon capture technologies. Read the full article: https://www.wired.com/story/data-centers-are-driving-a-us-gas-boom/