Data centers have caused the demand for gas-fired power in the US to explode over the past two years, according to new research released Wednesday. (Clean Air Task Force was not involved in the Global Energy Monitor research.) Data centers have helped to nearly triple the demand for gas-fired power in the US over the past two years. To put together the research, Global Energy Monitor reviewed publicly available sources of data on gas power build-outs in the pipeline. Natural gas is a much cleaner power option than coal-fired power, but gas plants do release CO 2 emissions.