Electricity demand surge could drive up reliance on natural gas

U.S. electricity demand is projected to rise 16% over the next five years, pushing utilities to increase natural gas use, which could lock in high emissions and derail climate goals.

Michael Copley reports for NPR.

In short:

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions stagnated in 2024, despite clean energy investments under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Rising demand for electricity, driven by data centers, electric vehicles and manufacturing, is leading utilities to rely on natural gas as a stopgap.
Analysts warn that delays in cutting emissions risk exacerbating climate change impacts like heat waves, storms and wildfires.

Key quote:

“The projections for business as usual are pretty dire in terms of changes in [the] climate.”

— Daniel Jacob, a professor of atmospheric chemistry and environmental engineering at Harvard University

Why this matters:

The U.S. must cut emissions faster in order to meet climate targets and avoid worsening global warming effects. Expanding natural gas use delays this progress, while outdated regulations and infrastructure challenges hinder renewable energy development.

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