Overview
- Wired’s permit review found 11 data‑center‑linked gas projects could legally emit up to 129 million tons of greenhouse gases a year, more than Morocco.
- A proposed 6‑gigawatt Project Matador in Texas sought approval for over 40 million tons a year, and a Chevron‑backed West Texas plant listed more than 11.5 million tons.
- Two xAI‑linked campuses in Tennessee each listed more than 6.4 million tons a year, and three Stargate‑affiliated plants together exceeded 24 million tons.
- Companies say these totals reflect worst‑case limits rather than expected output, and one builder said actual emissions could be two‑thirds lower, with some projects possibly never built.
- Analysts warn steady data‑center power demand and shortages of top‑efficiency turbines could drive longer run times and higher real‑world emissions, increasing the risk of long‑lived gas buildouts.