Louisiana Faces Surge in Natural Gas Power Plant Proposals Amidst Rising Data Center Demand
Louisiana is experiencing a significant increase in proposed natural gas power plant capacity, with 6.6 gigawatts (GW) planned, placing it among the top five U.S. states for such additions. This surge is largely driven by the escalating electricity demand from data centers. Filings submitted to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicate plans for 60.4 GW of additional gas capacity nationwide by the end of 2030, a 44% increase from forecasts in December 2025. This national figure surpasses the total power plant capacity of all but three U.S. states: Texas, California, and Florida. The new gas plants are proposed across 32 states and Washington, D.C., with Texas accounting for nearly a third of the proposed new grid-connected gas plant capacity through 2030. These figures do not include 'off-grid' natural gas plants intended to directly power data centers, which could add tens of gigawatts more capacity.
