U.S. Approves 12+ Data-Center Power Plants in Under 1 Year as AI Demand Surges

3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 16

Reuters found more than a dozen off-grid U.S. power plants for single data centers were approved in under a year, often with little notice, public hearings or environmental review.
At least 57 such plants are proposed or under construction, totaling 73,000 megawatts, as tech companies race to secure dedicated power for AI without straining the grid.
Ohio shows how quickly projects can move: a 2025 law allows some plants to win approval in 45 days, and Meta’s Apollo gas plant was approved in under three months before its draft air permit became public.
Residents near projects in Ohio and elsewhere say secrecy, shell companies and redacted records have limited scrutiny of air-quality, safety and climate risks from mostly gas-fired facilities.
Federal and state officials are still pushing faster AI-infrastructure permitting, framing it as an economic and strategic priority as communities seek more transparency and oversight.