Artificial intelligence infrastructure is driving a massive increase in fuel requirements that will see U.S. data centers consume gas at levels exceeding most sovereign nations. These facilities are projected to reach 15 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day by 2035, a total that surpasses the combined daily usage of Germany and Japan. Only China, Russia, Iran, and the U.S. itself maintain higher levels of daily consumption.

This expansion puts pressure on the electrical system, and the largest power grid in the U.S. could miss its 2030 reliability target if data center demand continues to rise. The growth in gas usage reflects the high energy intensity of AI and cloud computing facilities being deployed nationwide.