America is pumping more natural gas than ever — and AI is a big reason why
The EIA forecasts U.S. natural gas production will average a record 122.5 billion cubic feet per day in 2026, topping last year's record of 118.5. Growing electricity demand — data centers included — is part of what's pulling it out of the ground.
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For the 806
The Permian is half this story, and gas-fired power is what most new data centers actually plug into while everything else gets built. Field, pipeline, and plant work stays busy as long as this holds.
What we don't know
- This is a forecast, not a result — hurricanes, prices, and demand can all move the final number.
Sources
- PrimaryU.S. Energy Information Administration ↗
EIA's August 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook: a forecast record of 122.5 Bcf/d marketed production in 2026, above 2025's 118.5.