AI's power demands give carbon capture a new push

Deep-pocketed tech companies are considering carbon capture technology for natural gas power plants to meet climate goals while powering the AI race. At least five projects are under consideration across the U.S., including publicly touted efforts by Google in Illinois and reportedly in Nebraska, along with projects by ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Meta. This push could make natural gas electricity cleaner for data centers, which require reliable, around-the-clock power. However, the technology has historically been too expensive, and while federal subsidies help, upfront capital costs remain high. Experts like BCG estimate up to $80 billion could be spent on new gas plants and retrofits with carbon capture if the trend takes off.