<p><strong>WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY</strong>: The United States is reportedly advancing in the construction of natural gas projects aimed at powering artificial intelligence and data centers, surpassing China in development efforts.</p>
<ul> <li>In today’s edition of <em>Daily on Energy</em>, a report indicates that the U.S. is significantly increasing its natural gas capacity, particularly for AI operations.</li> <li>Environmental Protection Agency Administrator <strong>Lee Zeldin</strong> is scheduled to visit New York this week for discussions on energy affordability and to tour a drinking water facility.</li> </ul>
<h2><strong>U.S. PULLS AHEAD OF CHINA IN BUILDING GAS FOR AI</strong></h2>
<p>The United States is reportedly outpacing China in the development of natural gas projects that will be utilized for artificial intelligence. A report released by the nonprofit organization Global Energy Monitor indicates that the U.S. is constructing twice as much natural gas capacity as China, primarily for AI operations.</p>
<p>The report found that the capacity of natural gas projects under development in the U.S. during the first half of this year was 50% higher than the total for 2025, amounting to approximately 378 gigawatts of gas power projects. About half of this capacity is intended for data centers, with an estimated 189 gigawatts planned for development in the first half of 2026, nearly double the total from the previous year, which was around 97 gigawatts. For context, one gigawatt is estimated to power about 750,000 homes.</p>
<p>In comparison, while China had a slight lead in under-construction natural gas projects last year, the U.S. has since taken the lead. U.S. natural gas projects under construction grew by 76% from January to June, reaching 52 gigawatts, with about 16.9 gigawatts designated for data centers. In contrast, China has approximately 24 gigawatts of natural gas projects under construction.</p>
<p>At this rate, the U.S. is building twice as much gas-fired capacity as China. The report also noted that the U.S. has nearly three times as much natural gas in development, including projects in pre-construction or announced stages.</p>
<p>However, many of these projects are still in the pre-construction phase and may face delays due to long lead times for essential materials. Global Energy Monitor noted that some companies are attempting to circumvent these delays by opting for materials that can be installed more quickly, such as engines instead of gas turbines.</p>
<p>Many projects, however, which constitute two-thirds of gas-fired capacity under development globally, have yet to identify a turbine or engine manufacturer.</p>
<p>Read more from Callie <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-and-environment/4699493/us-china-build-natural-gas-power-ai-data-centers/">here</a>.</p>
<h2><strong>ZELDIN HEADS TO NEW YORK</strong></h2>
<p>Environmental Protection Agency Administrator <strong>Lee Zeldin</strong> will be visiting New York from tomorrow until Friday, where he will make several significant stops. The EPA has announced that Zeldin will participate in a roundtable with local leaders to discuss energy affordability and will tour a drinking water facility. Earlier this year, the EPA allocated over $185 million to reduce lead exposure in New York drinking water.</p>
<p>Zeldin will also return to Long Island, where he is expected to make a “major announcement” regarding the Long Island Sound Partnership and participate in an event related to the EPA’s Make America Healthy Again initiatives. The Long Island Sound Partnership is a bi-state collaboration formed by the EPA, New York, and Connecticut in 1985 aimed at restoring the Long Island Sound.</p>
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<h2><strong>All the rest</strong></h2>
<p><strong>A MONTANA AND DAKOTAS OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE:</strong> The Interior Department is set to auction over 3,000 acres of federal land in Montana and the Dakotas for oil and gas drilling later this fall. The Bureau of Land Management announced that an oil and gas lease sale for 20 parcels of land spanning 3,388 acres is scheduled for October 27. A public comment period on the selection closed last month, but the public will have a chance to object during a 30-day protest period ending on September 24.</p>
<p><strong>CREWS GAIN SOME CONTROL OF THE NEVADA HAWK FIRE:</strong> Firefighters are reportedly gaining control over the Hawk Fire in the Sierra Nevada foothills, which has led to evacuation orders for thousands. As of this morning, the fire has burned nearly 15,051 acres, with approximately 63,000 people currently under evacuation orders. The fire is about 27% contained, but concerns remain regarding winds and dry conditions that could threaten neighborhoods around Reno.</p>
<p><strong>TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETS HISTORIC PRESERVATION RULES TO SPEED UP PERMITTING:</strong> The Trump administration is intensifying efforts to streamline the federal permitting process by targeting historic preservation rules. Interior Secretary <strong>Doug Burgum</strong> issued a secretarial order last week for agency employees to identify activities that can be exempt from reviews required under the National Historic Preservation Act.</p>
<p><strong>EUROPE NATURAL GAS PRICES TO COMPETE WITH ASIA FOR SUPPLIES, GOLDMAN SACHS SAYS:</strong> Goldman Sachs analysts predict that European gas prices may need to exceed €100 or $117 per megawatt-hour in December to compete with Asia for limited liquefied natural gas supplies for the winter. Currently, Europe’s gas storage is at 62% capacity, the lowest in several years.</p>
<p><strong>ICYMI – NEVADA SUES TRUMP OVER COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN:</strong> The state of Nevada has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding its plan to reduce Colorado River water usage, claiming the cuts are excessive. The lawsuit targets the administration’s 10-year framework for managing the Colorado River, which includes cuts for Nevada, Arizona, and California.</p>
<p><strong>RUNDOWN</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-utility-newsom-wildfire-liability-cost-f516b7d15f5869c02f54a02f6236b6ca">The Associated Press</a> Newsom returns to a defining California fight: Who pays for wildfire damage?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.hcn.org/issues/58-8/inside-standing-rocks-propaganda-war/?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2026-08-25-Newsletter">High Country News</a> What Standing Rock’s propaganda war means today</p>
<p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/25/fossil-fuel-lobbyists-fight-climate-damage">The Guardian</a> US fossil fuel lobbyists also represent hundreds of cities fighting for climate damages</p>