Natural gas and IA: a strategic challenge for a sustainable energy future

The growing importance of artificial intelligence raises questions about the energy sources needed. Chevron CEO Michael Wirth criticizes the Biden administration's policies on natural gas, highlighting its crucial role in the energy transition and reducing carbon emissions.

Share:

Exploitation de gaz naturel Chevron dans le bassin Permien

The growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in various industrial sectors raises crucial questions about the energy sources needed to power this technological revolution.
In this context, Chevron CEO Michael Wirth criticizes the Biden administration’s natural gas policies, which he sees as essential to meeting AI’s growing energy needs.
Wirth points out that natural gas, particularly that extracted from the Permian Basin, plays a fundamental role in the energy transition and the reduction of carbon emissions.
Wirth expresses his concerns at the Gastech conference in Houston, where he advocates the use of low-carbon gas over coal to meet AI’s energy demands.
He asserts that “the advance of AI will depend not only on the design labs of Silicon Valley, but also on the gas fields of the Permian Basin.”
This basin, which spans Texas and New Mexico, is the largest oil field in the United States and accounts for 15% of national gas production.
This dependence on natural gas raises strategic issues for the American energy industry.

The implications of energy policies

Wirth is also critical of the Biden administration’s decision to suspend liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, a move he sees as a political priority at the expense of economic progress.
In January, President Biden announced a pause on approvals for LNG export projects, a move that was welcomed by environmental activists, but could delay crucial decisions until after the November elections.
Wirth argues that the moratorium could lead to higher energy costs, threaten supply reliability and slow the transition from coal to gas, which could paradoxically increase carbon emissions.
He states, “Instead of imposing a moratorium on LNG exports, the administration should stop the attacks on natural gas.”
This statement highlights the tension between climate goals and growing energy needs, particularly in a context where AI requires robust and reliable energy infrastructure.

The role of natural gas in decarbonation

Wirth highlights the role of natural gas in reducing global carbon emissions.
He cites data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which attributes more than a third of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 to coal combustion.
In his view, the switch from coal to gas could constitute “the most significant carbon reduction initiative in history.”
This statement underlines the strategic importance of natural gas in the fight against climate change, while calling for a stable and predictable energy policy.
It proposes three pillars for a balanced energy future: political support for gas as the key to a low-carbon future, recognition of the progress made in deploying new gas technologies and solutions, and understanding that the energy transition requires unprecedented innovation and collaboration.
These elements are crucial to ensuring that natural gas remains a reliable source of energy in a decarbonizing world.

Perspectives on the future of energy

Wirth’s statements underline a wider debate on how energy policies can support or hinder the transition to more sustainable energy sources.
As technology companies continue to invest heavily in AI, energy demand will only increase.
Policymakers must therefore navigate between economic and environmental imperatives, taking into account the realities of the energy market.
The need for a balanced approach is more pressing than ever.
Energy companies such as Chevron are calling for greater recognition of the role of natural gas in the energy transition.
By integrating innovative solutions and fostering constructive dialogue between stakeholders, it is possible to create a framework that supports both economic growth and decarbonization objectives.
The issues raised by Wirth and other industry leaders highlight the complexity of today’s energy challenges.
As the world moves towards a greener economy, the way energy policies are formulated and implemented will have a significant impact on companies’ ability to meet future energy needs while respecting climate commitments.

The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.
French greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise by 0.2% in the first quarter of 2025, indicating a global slowdown in reductions forecast for the full year, according to Citepa, an independent organisation responsible for national monitoring.
The Republican budget bill passed by the U.S. Senate accelerates the phase-out of tax credits for renewable energies, favoring fossil fuels and raising economic concerns among solar and wind industry professionals.
Rapid growth in solar and wind capacities will lead to a significant rise in electricity curtailment in Brazil, as existing transmission infrastructure remains inadequate to handle this massive influx of energy, according to a recent study by consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.
In April 2025, fossil fuels represented 49.5% of South Korea's electricity mix, dropping below the symbolic threshold of 50% for the first time, primarily due to a historic decline in coal-generated electricity production.
The US Senate Finance Committee modifies the '45Z' tax credit to standardize the tax treatment of renewable fuels, thereby encouraging advanced biofuel production starting October 2025.
According to the 2025 report on global energy access, despite notable progress in renewable energy, insufficient targeted financing continues to hinder electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
While advanced economies maintain global energy leadership, China and the United States have significantly progressed in the security and sustainability of their energy systems, according to the World Economic Forum's annual report.
On the sidelines of the US–Africa summit in Luanda, Algiers and Luanda consolidate their energy collaboration to better exploit their oil, gas, and mining potential, targeting a common strategy in regional and international markets.
The UK's Climate Change Committee is urging the government to quickly reduce electricity costs to facilitate the adoption of heat pumps and electric vehicles, judged too slow to achieve the set climate targets.
The European Commission will extend until the end of 2030 an expanded state-aid framework, allowing capitals to fund low-carbon technologies and nuclear power to preserve competitiveness against China and the United States.
Japan's grid operator forecasts an energy shortfall of up to 89 GW by 2050 due to rising demand from semiconductor manufacturing, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence technologies.
Energy-intensive European industries will be eligible for temporary state aid to mitigate high electricity prices, according to a new regulatory framework proposed by the European Commission under the "Clean Industrial Deal."
Mauritius seeks international investors to swiftly build a floating power plant of around 100 MW, aiming to secure the national energy supply by January 2026 and address current production shortfalls.
Madrid announces immediate energy storage measures while Lisbon secures its electrical grid, responding to the historic outage that affected the entire Iberian Peninsula in late April.
Indonesia has unveiled its new national energy plan, projecting an increase of 69.5 GW in electricity capacity over ten years, largely funded by independent producers, to address rapidly rising domestic demand.
French Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher condemns the parliamentary moratorium on new renewable energy installations, warning of the potential loss of 150,000 industrial jobs and increased energy dependence on foreign countries.
The European battery regulation, fully effective from August 18, significantly alters industrial requirements related to electric cars and bicycles, imposing strict rules on recycling, supply chains, and transparency for companies.