Overview
- The Environmental Integrity Project report, released July 2, identified 74 proposed behind‑the‑meter natural‑gas plants for data centers that together could produce about 143 gigawatts of power and emit an estimated 662 million tons of greenhouse gases per year.
- Nearly half of the proposed capacity is in Texas, where 32 projects could generate roughly 63 gigawatts and emit about 287 million tons of greenhouse gases annually according to the analysis.
- The plants would also emit an estimated 159,142 tons a year of health‑harmful air pollutants such as particulate matter and nitrogen oxides that are linked to asthma and heart problems.
- Developers say on‑site power speeds data center launches and can be paired with renewables and storage, but critics and local groups warn the projects can skirt grid interconnection rules and may not produce real new clean energy.
- Regulators, grid operators and state officials are now weighing screening rules, tighter permitting and funding conditions for behind‑the‑meter plants as communities press for public hearings and cleaner alternatives.