Massive U.S. Data Center Buildout Could Add CO2 Equal to 24 Million Cars
A Financial Times analysis of 60 data centers under construction by Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft finds they could emit about 101.5 million tons of CO2 annually once online—roughly 7% of 2025 US power-sector emissions and the equivalent of 24 million gas-powered cars or 27 coal plants. Despite public emissions pledges, the grid is leaning on gas and coal to power round-the-clock AI demand, with renewable energy credits used to offset the gap, a costly approach likely to draw profitability pressure and renewed activism and policy scrutiny.