The escalating demand for electricity from data centers has resulted in a staggering 66% increase in the costs associated with natural gas power plants over the past two years. This surge in expenses, which has nearly doubled since 2021, is accompanied by a significant delay in construction timelines, now taking an average of 23% longer to complete. As the need for data processing and storage continues to rise, the pressure on energy resources intensifies, prompting a reevaluation of energy strategies and investments in infrastructure to meet the increasing demands of the tech industry.