The increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers are propelling the fossil fuel industry forward. Coal plants are being kept online. Additionally, the industry is expanding its production of natural gas, a less polluting but still harmful fossil fuel.
Sierra Club data reveals a significant surge in plans for new natural gas infrastructure in the first half of this year compared to 2020. This trend indicates a doubling of the industry’s expansion pace. If this continues, it could surpass the highest levels of new gas generation announced since 2017.
While natural gas is often touted as a cleaner alternative to coal, it still has a significant carbon footprint. Pound for pound, methane’s greenhouse effect is 80 times more potent than CO2, meaning that small amounts of it can still have a devastating climate impact. Methane leaks from gas infrastructure contribute to climate change, undermining efforts towards a carbon-neutral future.
Even with increased renewable energy adoption, the continued reliance on fossil fuels, especially natural gas, poses a significant challenge to achieving a sustainable energy future. The long-term consequences of operating these gas plants for decades are concerning, even if some announced projects may be abandoned.
Reference- Bloomberg, Goldman Sachs, The Washington Post, Reuters