US Gas Power Development Surges Past China Due to Data Centers

The United States is now developing nearly three times the amount of gas-fired power capacity compared to China, a surge largely attributed to the escalating energy needs of data centers. In the first half of 2026, the capacity of gas-fired power projects specifically planned for data centers in the U.S. nearly doubled, according to a report from Global Energy Monitor. At the close of 2025, Global Energy Monitor had identified 97 gigawatts (GW) of gas power projects designated for on-site data center use in the U.S. This figure has since increased to 189 GW. For context, one gigawatt of electricity is sufficient to power approximately one million homes. These figures encompass projects that have been announced, are in the pre-construction phase, or are currently under construction. This trend represents a broader increase in U.S. gas projects overall. Global Energy Monitor data indicates that general gas power development in the U.S. has risen by 50% during the first half of 2026, climbing from 252 GW to 378 GW. Texas alone accounts for a third of this project pipeline, with 122 GW of gas-fired capacity under development, an amount exceeding the total planned capacity of many entire countries. While not all of this new gas capacity is exclusively for data centers, the majority, specifically 77 GW, or nearly two-thirds of Texas's planned capacity, is intended to directly power data centers. When considering all gas projects under construction across the nation, the U.S. has become the world's leading builder of gas power, constructing twice the capacity of China. If all projects, including those announced and in pre-construction alongside those under construction, are aggregated, the U.S. possesses nearly three times the gas-fired capacity in development compared to China. China is also experiencing a significant increase in data centers due to the expansion of artificial intelligence. However, unlike the U.S., China is opting to power its data centers with clean energy sources, including solar power, a contrast to the U.S. reliance on gas-fired generation for its data center expansion.