Texas leads nation in proposed power plants for data centers

3 hours ago

Texas leads the nation in planned natural gas-fired power plants for data centers, with 32 out of 74 national projects, which could emit over 287 million tons of greenhouse gases annually—equivalent to 61 million cars.
The proposed plants in Texas could also release significant air pollutants, including 14,000 tons of fine particulate matter, 20,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 8,000 tons of volatile organic compounds, linked to respiratory illnesses and heart disease.
Many proposed plants are in lower-income communities with below-average life expectancy, potentially worsening health disparities, and are concentrated in West Texas with limited air quality monitoring.
Data center demand is driven by AI growth, with Texas attracting projects due to cheap land, available power, and business-friendly policies, but concerns include grid reliability and rising electricity bills for residents.
Texas faces unprecedented electricity demand forecasts, with ERCOT reporting 439 gigawatts requested, 89% from data centers, though not all may be built, sparking debates over infrastructure costs and developer responsibility.

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