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U.S. AI data centers projected to become fifth-largest natural gas consumers by 2035.
Recent projections indicate that U.S. AI data centers are expected to become the world's fifth-largest consumers of natural gas by 2035, with consumption anticipated to increase by 15 billion cubic feet per day. This surge is driven by the growing demand for computational power and delays in power infrastructure, leading facilities to deploy on-site natural gas turbines. While this development underscores the expanding role of AI in the economy, it also raises concerns about environmental impacts and the sustainability of natural gas supply.
Key points
- The projected increase in natural gas consumption by U.S. AI data centers highlights the expanding role of AI in the economy, potentially driving demand for natural gas.
- The reliance on natural gas for AI data centers raises environmental concerns and questions about the sustainability of natural gas supply.
- The development reflects the growing intersection of technology and energy consumption, with both positive and negative implications.
Sources
- US AI data centers projected to become the fifth-largest natural gas consumer in the world by 2035 — consumption to grow by 15 billion cubic feet per day as demand for compute increasesTom's Hardware · September 15, 2026
- US data center natural gas consumption could surpass Germany and Japan combined by 2035TechRadar · September 17, 2026
AI-generated from public news sources. Not financial advice.
