April 28, 2026
Grok, gas, and global warming—pick two
New Gas-Powered Data Centers Could Emit More Greenhouse Gases Than Whole Nations
Commenters split: doomers cry “body count” while defenders say it’s just 1.9%
TLDR: Just 11 AI-linked gas power plans could emit 129M tons of greenhouse gases a year, igniting protests near xAI’s Memphis site and a lawsuit. Commenters are split between climate alarm—calling it a “body count”—and defenders saying it’s only ~1.9% of US emissions and may be worth the productivity gains.
The internet did a dramatic double-take as reports said just 11 gas-powered data center campuses tied to AI giants like xAI and Microsoft could pump out 129 million tons of greenhouse gases a year—more than some countries. Cue the comment chaos. One camp is in full meltdown: “So basically that means there’s a body count,” cried one, while another begged for the AI bubble to burst before the planet does.
Others fired back with the cool-data take. One commenter claimed Wired’s estimate is about 1.9% of US emissions, arguing that if AI boosts productivity, the carbon intensity per dollar could fall. Another called out the Morocco comparison and deadpanned, “At least the example wasn’t Vatican City.” Gallows humor, meet climate dread.
Meanwhile, the on-the-ground drama is real. xAI set up gas turbines at its Memphis “Colossus” campus to power AI training for Grok, sparking protests in a nearby low-income Black neighborhood. The EPA approved the turbines; the NAACP sued; regulators just greenlit a second site in Mississippi. Microsoft, for its part, may tap a Chevron-backed gas project in West Texas that could emit 11.5 million tons a year, saying it’s part of a “portfolio” for reliable energy. Detractors call it a climate backslide; defenders call it progress with unpopular tradeoffs. And in the comments? It’s fire vs. brimstone—with memes
Key Points
- •WIRED’s review of state air permit documents finds 11 U.S. data center-linked gas projects could emit over 129 million tons of greenhouse gases annually.
- •These behind-the-meter projects are designed to bypass the grid and power data centers directly, addressing utility interconnection delays and public bill concerns.
- •xAI’s Memphis and Southaven campuses each have permits indicating over 6.4 million tons CO2e per year; combined impacts equate to 30+ average gas plants’ emissions.
- •Microsoft is exploring power from a Chevron-backed West Texas gas project permitted for 11.5+ million tons CO2e annually; Microsoft cited a portfolio energy approach.
- •EPA approved turbines for xAI’s Memphis campus; regulators permitted an xAI affiliate’s Southaven site, and the NAACP has filed a lawsuit alleging illegal turbine operations.