Soaring Data Center Demand Causes Natural Gas Power Plant Costs to Skyrocket
2026-04-27 · TechCrunch AI · Original
The rapid rise in electricity demand from data centers has led to a staggering 66% increase in the costs of natural gas power plants, nearly doubling over the past two years. Additionally, the time required to construct these plants has lengthened by 23%, reflecting the strain on resources and infrastructure. This surge in demand highlights the growing reliance on data centers and the urgent need for expanded energy capabilities to support the digital economy. As businesses strive to meet the demands of cloud computing and big data, the implications for energy providers and consumers alike are significant.