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.

Nearly USD92bn will be invested by major American and international groups in new data centres and energy infrastructure, responding to the surge in electricity demand linked to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Nouakchott has endured lengthy power interruptions for several weeks, highlighting the financial and technical limits of the Mauritanian Electricity Company as Mauritania aims to widen access and green its mix by 2030.
Between 2015 and 2024, four multilateral climate funds committed nearly eight bn USD to clean energy, attracting private capital through concessional terms while Africa and Asia absorbed more than half of the volume.
The Global Energy Policies Hub shows that strategic reserves, gas obligations, cybersecurity and critical-mineral policies are expanding rapidly, lifting oil coverage to 98 % of world imports.
According to a report by Ember, the Chinese government’s appliance trade-in campaign could double residential air-conditioner efficiency gains in 2025 and trim up to USD943mn from household electricity spending this year.
Washington is examining sectoral taxes on polysilicon and drones, two supply chains dominated by China, after triggering Section 232 to measure industrial dependency risks.
The 2025-2034 development plan presented by Terna includes strengthening Sicily’s grid, new interconnections, and major projects to support the region’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Terna and NPC Ukrenergo have concluded a three-year partnership in Rome aimed at strengthening the integration of the Ukrainian grid into the pan-European system, with an in-depth exchange of technological and regulatory expertise.
GE Vernova has secured a major contract to modernise the Kühmoos substation in Germany, enhancing grid reliability and integration capacity for power flows between Germany, France and Switzerland.
The National Energy System Operator forecasts electricity demand to rise to 785 TWh by 2050, underlining the need to modernise grids and integrate more clean energy to support the UK’s energy transition.
Terna has signed a guarantee agreement with SACE and the European Investment Bank to finance the Adriatic Link project, totalling approximately €1bn ($1.08bn) and validated as a major transaction under Italian regulations.
India unveils a series of reforms on oil and gas contracts, introducing a fiscal stability clause to enhance the sector’s attractiveness for foreign companies and boost its growth ambitions in upstream energy.
The European Commission is launching a special fund of EUR2.3bn ($2.5bn) to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and attract private capital to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Asia dominated global new renewable energy capacity in 2024 with 71% of installations, while Africa recorded limited growth of only 7.2%, according to the latest annual report from IRENA.
US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
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.