Data Centers Fuel US Gas Boom, While Tesla Faces Financial Challenges
Data centers are driving a surge in demand for gas-fired power in the United States, according to a new study released Wednesday by Global Energy Monitor, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. Simultaneously, Tesla is experiencing financial difficulties, with revenues falling year over year for the first time in the company's history.
The Global Energy Monitor research indicated that over a third of the new demand for gas-fired power is explicitly linked to gas projects that will power data centers. This increase is equivalent to the energy that would power tens of millions of US homes. The findings come as the Trump administration encourages data center construction while simultaneously rolling back pollution regulations on power plants and oil and gas extraction. This trend will likely lead to an increase in US greenhouse gas emissions, even if some projects tracked by Global Energy Monitor incorporate carbon capture technologies.
Meanwhile, Tesla published its financial results for 2025, revealing a significant downturn. Automotive revenues fell by 11 percent to $17.7 billion, according to Ars Technica. While the electric automaker experienced double-digit growth in its energy storage business (up 25 percent to $3.8 billion) and services (up 18 percent to $3.4 billion), it wasn't enough to offset the decline in automotive sales. Earlier in the month, Tesla reported a 16 percent decline in sales and production numbers for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
In other news, SpaceX has issued a series of demands to state governments regarding broadband grants for Starlink. According to Ars Technica, SpaceX will provide all necessary equipment to receive broadband at no cost to subscribers requesting service, eliminating the upfront hardware fee. However, the company is not promising lower-than-usual monthly prices to consumers in subsidized areas, pledging to make broadband available for $80 or less a month, plus taxes and fees, to people with low incomes.
Also this week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released details about Mobile Fortify, a face recognition app used by federal immigration agents. Wired reported that the app, which is used to identify people in the field, including undocumented immigrants and US citizens, is developed by an unnamed company. The details were published as part of DHS's 2025 AI Use Case Inventory. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began using Mobile Fortify in May 2025, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gained access on May 20, 2025.
Finally, BBC One released the first trailer for its new miniseries adaptation of William Golding's classic novel "Lord of the Flies," Ars Technica reported. The miniseries, which has the support of the Golding family, is expected to closely follow the novel's plot.
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