US Data Centers to Guzzle More Gas Than Nations

US data centers could consume 18 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2035, more than Germany and Japan combined, according to BloombergNEF. That figure is nearly double what the organization projected just nine months ago, with data centers set to become the second-strongest driver of natural gas demand growth after LNG exports. The surge carries serious consequences. Rising demand could push natural gas prices higher, straining utility ratepayers even if tech giants can absorb the costs. Environmentally, the additional consumption would generate 1 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution daily, equivalent to roughly 12% of total US emissions today.