Report finds US fossil fuel infrastructure plans growing as renewable energy growth slows
The fossil fuel comeback is here
- Who
- The Verge
- What
- reported a rise in planned fossil fuel infrastructure amid growing electricity demand, including from AI data centers
- Quote
The US is building more fossil fuel infrastructure than it has in a decade while renewable energy growth slows down, a new report shows.
What happened
A report by the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy finds US fossil fuel infrastructure development accelerating as renewable energy growth slows and electricity demand rises from data centers, factories, and electric vehicles. Fossil fuels increased from 5 percent of planned new capacity in 2024 to 30 percent by the second quarter of 2026. The authors warn that completing planned gas projects could lock in pollution and higher electricity prices for decades, although some projects could fall through if AI data center demand forecasts are overblown.
The story so far
Fossil fuels’ share of planned new US power capacity rose from 5 percent in 2024 to 30 percent by the second quarter of 2026, according to a report by the Environmental Defense Fund and Atlas Public Policy. The report finds fossil fuel infrastructure development accelerating as renewable energy growth slows and electricity demand rises from data centers, factories, and electric vehicles. The authors warn that completing planned gas projects could lock in pollution and higher electricity prices for decades. Some projects could fall through, however, if forecasts of electricity demand from AI data centers prove overblown.
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