Natural Gas Power Plant Costs Surge 66% Due to Rising Data Center Demand

2026-04-27 · TechCrunch AI · Original

The escalating demand for electricity from data centers has led to a staggering 66% increase in the costs associated with natural gas power plants over the past two years. This sharp rise in expenses is accompanied by a significant delay in construction timelines, with projects taking an average of 23% longer to complete. As the digital ecosystem continues to expand, the need for reliable energy sources is becoming increasingly critical, prompting a reevaluation of energy infrastructure investments. This trend underscores the growing intersection of technology and energy markets, revealing how the rapid growth of data centers is reshaping the landscape of power generation.