Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Google's Data Center Shift to Natural Gas Sparks Criticism

4/3/2026

43 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Google LLC will power a data center in Armstrong County, Texas, with a natural gas project emitting 4.5 million tons of greenhouse gases.
The move marks a shift for Google, a climate leader, as it expands solar and wind investments.
Critics, including Michael Thomas of Cleanview, say the shift signals a pivot from climate commitments.
Meta and Microsoft are also turning to natural gas for data centers.

History

Historical Context

The Clean Air Act of 1970 marked a pivotal moment in U.S. environmental policy, establishing regulations to combat air pollution and empowering the EPA to enforce these standards. Following the Supreme Court's 2007 ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA, which recognized greenhouse gases as pollutants, recent actions by tech giants like Google to invest in fossil fuels threaten decades of progress in climate leadership and environmental protection.

1 of 2

Story summary

Google LLC will power a data center in Armstrong County, Texas, with a natural gas project emitting 4.5 million tons of greenhouse gases.
The move marks a shift for Google, a climate leader, as it expands solar and wind investments.
Critics, including Michael Thomas of Cleanview, say the shift signals a pivot from climate commitments.
Meta and Microsoft are also turning to natural gas for data centers.

1 / 2