April 24, 2026 New natural gas projects tied to just 11 U.S. data centre campuses could emit more than 129 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, according to air permit estimates reviewed by WIRED. The findings highlight the growing climate cost of the AI infrastructure build-out, as major technology companies increasingly turn to dedicated power sources outside the traditional grid.
The projects are being developed to support data centres operated or backed by companies including OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft and xAI. Many rely on “behind-the-meter” power, energy generated on-site to bypass grid constraints and avoid delays in connecting to utilities.
Michael Thomas, founder of clean energy research firm Cleanview, described the trend as “a crazy acceleration of emissions,” adding, “It’s almost like we thought we were on the downside of the Industrial Revolution, retiring coal and gas, and now we have a new hump where we’re going to rise.”
Several high-profile projects illustrate the scale of the shift. xAI’s Colossus data centre campuses in Tennessee and Mississippi could each emit more than 6.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year, based on permit filings. Combined, that is roughly comparable to the emissions from more than 30 average-sized natural gas plants. The projects have also drawn local opposition, including legal action over turbine use.
In Texas, a Chevron-backed project being considered by Microsoft could emit more than 11.5 million tonnes annually, exceeding the yearly emissions of Jamaica. Microsoft said in a statement that it is pursuing a “portfolio approach to energy,” noting that “in certain regions, dedicated onsite energy infrastructure may be part of that portfolio, particularly where grid constraints limit the pace of deployment.”
Other large-scale developments are tied to multi-company AI initiatives such as Stargate, with three affiliated gas projects in Texas and New Mexico alone capable of emitting more than 24 million tonnes per year. Additional projects linked to firms like Crusoe, Oracle and Fermi push potential emissions even higher, with some single campuses permitted to exceed 30 to 40 million tonnes annually.
While these figures are based on maximum operating scenarios, they remain significant even under conservative assumptions. Industry representatives note that real-world emissions are often lower than permit limits, as plants do not typically run at full capacity. However, researchers argue that data centre power demand is more constant than grid-based usage, meaning emissions could track closer to permitted levels.
The rapid expansion is also reshaping the broader energy pipeline. According to Global Energy Monitor, nearly 100 gigawatts of behind-the-meter gas capacity for data centres was in development in the U.S. at the start of 2026, up from just 4 gigawatts in early 2024. At the same time, supply constraints for efficient turbines are prompting some developers to consider less efficient alternatives, potentially increasing emissions further.
Major technology companies have acknowledged that the scale of AI infrastructure is complicating existing climate commitments. Meta, for example, is linked to multiple gas projects in Ohio and Louisiana that could collectively emit millions of tonnes annually, even as the company reports significant emissions reductions in recent years.
