The United States has overtaken China in gas-fired power construction as AI data centers drive a rapid expansion of natural-gas capacity. Global Energy Monitor said gas capacity in development specifically for data centers reached 189 gigawatts by mid-2026, up from 97 gigawatts at the end of 2025 and 4 gigawatts in early 2024. Total U.S. gas capacity under development rose 50% since January to 378 gigawatts from 252 gigawatts. Completing all projects would expand the U.S. gas fleet by about two-thirds at a cost exceeding $647 billion and could increase power-sector emissions by up to 20%. Data-center developers are increasingly using behind-the-meter plants to avoid lengthy grid connections, while the Trump administration has promoted self-supplied power and expanded a voluntary Ratepayer Protection Pledge signed by major technology companies. Analysts say China’s data-center expansion is more closely tied to renewable energy, while U.S. reliance on gas could lock in decades of emissions, volatile fuel costs and political opposition.