Forecast: natural gas price spike could hit AI data center costs

A new forecast suggests natural gas prices could triple in parts of the US, according to TechCrunch. That would raise costs significantly for hyperscalers that have turned to gas-fired power to meet surging AI data center energy demand.

Why it matters: Many hyperscalers bet on natural gas as a faster path to power than grid upgrades or renewables; a tripling of gas prices would undercut that strategy's cost advantage right as data center power usage climbs sharply, adding pressure to already-strained AI infrastructure economics.