根据最新研究显示，美国为应对人工智慧发展带来的庞大能源需求，专为资料中心开发的天然气发电项目在短时间内急剧增加。许多科技公司选择建立私有的发电厂以避开漫长的电网连接等待时间，这使得截至二零二六年中的潜在天然气发电需求飙升至超过一百八十九吉瓦。（关键数字：189, 2026）

然而，这种大量依赖天然气发电的趋势将带来沉重的气候成本，因为许多新建的发电设施效率较低且会大幅增加温室气体排放。相比之下，被视为人工智慧竞争对手的中国，其资料中心扩张则更倾向于利用偏远地区丰富的太阳能与水力等再生能源，以确保国家的能源独立性。

专家指出，美国针对资料中心建设天然气发电厂虽然在短期内能快速解决能源短缺问题并具有经济效益，但长期来看却可能削弱对清洁能源产业的投资。尽管面临资金、地方反对和设备供应等多重不确定性，一旦这些天然气项目全数落成，将使高排放量在未来几十年内难以改变。

Recent research highlights a massive surge in US gas-fired power projects under development specifically to meet the soaring energy demands of artificial intelligence. Tech companies are increasingly building private power facilities to bypass lengthy grid connection delays, pushing the pipeline of gas power demand to over 189 gigawatts by mid-2026.

This heavy reliance on natural gas comes with severe climate consequences, as many of these new facilities use inefficient turbines that significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, China is pursuing a different strategy for its data center expansion, focusing primarily on abundant renewable energy sources like solar and hydropower in rural areas to ensure energy independence.

Experts note that while the US strategy of building gas plants for data centers may offer quick and economically viable short-term solutions, it risks stifling long-term investments in the clean energy sector. Although various constraints like financing and local opposition mean not all proposed projects will materialize, completing them would lock in high carbon emissions for decades to come.