Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 4 hrs ago
Texas data center boom could reverse decades of air quality gains
A Houston research center warns that Texas data centers could sharply increase air pollution as their demand for electricity grows.
Texas has 26 gigawatts of existing and under-construction data center capacity, and many more projects are proposed.
The concern is how developers and utilities will supply the power, including whether they use gas turbines, other gas engines or renewable energy.
In one modeled scenario, power-sector soot more than triples in five years, smog-forming emissions rise 136 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions climb 90 percent above 2025 levels.
That could undo decades of progress in cleaner air, with soot reaching its highest level since 2006.
The figures are projections, and some proposed projects may not be built.
Onsite solar and wind could greatly cut pollution, while gas engines built to avoid grid connection delays could make it worse; the outcome depends on developers’ power choices.
A Houston Advanced Research Center report says Texas data center growth could reverse decades of air quality gains if projects use the anticipated electricity grid mix.
In that scenario, fine particle pollution from the power sector would more than triple within five years, reaching its highest level since 2006.
Smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions would rise 136 percent, while carbon dioxide pollution would climb 90 percent above 2025 levels.
The report says onsite renewable energy could sharply reduce pollution, while onsite gas engines could drive it higher.
Texas has 26 gigawatts of existing and under-construction data center capacity, the most of any state.
- Who
- Texas data center developers and utilities, and the Houston Advanced Research Center, which modeled the potential effects.
- What
- A report says pollution could rise sharply as data centers increase electricity demand.
- When
- The report describes pollution changes within five years. It was reported on October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Texas.
- Why
- New and proposed data centers require large amounts of electricity, and the pollution impact depends on how that power is generated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The report uses power-sector carbon dioxide pollution in 2025 as the baseline for its comparison.
A separate Wood Mackenzie report said Texas was bracing for four times more proposed data center capacity running on onsite power than any other state.
Under the anticipated grid mix scenario, soot and smog-forming pollution could rise enough to reverse decades of air quality gains.
- Existing and under-construction capacity
- 26 gigawatts in Texas
- Fine particle pollution
- More than triple, reaching its highest level since 2006 in the anticipated grid mix scenario
- Nitrogen oxide emissions
- Up 136 percent in the anticipated grid mix scenario
- Carbon dioxide pollution
- Up 90 percent above 2025 levels in the anticipated grid mix scenario
- Onsite renewable power
- Nitrogen oxide emissions could be up to 10 times lower when paired with grid power
What people are saying
There is a good chance that our children and grandchildren will breathe dirtier air than we did.
The transportation sector, the state, and other stakeholders have been working for decades to successfully bring these [emissions] numbers down, and that progress is now at risk.