On Tuesday, energy giant Chevron announced a partnership with investment firm Engine No. 1 and GE Vernova to construct natural gas-based power plants for co-located data centers in the United States. This initiative follows U.S. President Donald Trump's recent unveiling of an infrastructure funding plan for artificial intelligence to compete with other nations in this pivotal technology sector.
The collaborative effort will utilize GE Vernova's natural gas turbines to generate up to 4 gigawatts of power, sufficient to supply about 3 million households. These power plants will be situated in the Southeast, Midwest, and West regions of the U.S., with plans to potentially sell excess energy back to the grid, thereby supporting broader energy requirements.
Chevron anticipates commencing operations by late 2027, with potential expansion opportunities beyond the initial 4-gigawatt capacity. Chevron's CEO Mike Wirth expressed confidence in investing in projects that cultivate domestic jobs and enhance national security in light of President Trump's energy policies and dedication to energy and AI leadership.
Furthermore, the projects are envisioned to incorporate possibilities for integrating carbon capture and storage technologies, as well as renewable energy sources.