New natural gas projects linked to major tech companies could generate greenhouse gas emissions exceeding those of some small nations, according to air permit documents reviewed by Wired.
A review of air permits reveals that just 11 US data center campuses—connected to OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and other tech firms—are poised to emit over 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually through new gas-powered projects.
For context, this emission level rivals the total carbon output of numerous countries. The scale underscores the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure, which requires enormous computational power and energy consumption.
The permits detail plans for natural gas generation at these facilities, a choice made despite growing pressure on tech companies to adopt renewable energy sources. The findings highlight a tension between the industry's expansion and climate commitments.
These projects represent significant investments in data center capacity as companies race to build AI infrastructure. However, the reliance on fossil fuels contradicts sustainability pledges many of these organizations have publicly announced.
The revelation comes amid broader scrutiny of tech's environmental impact and questions about whether current renewable energy availability can meet AI's surging power demands.
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