Oracle uses truck-delivered compressed natural gas to power its data center expansion projects. This move circumvents pipeline construction delays.
This "virtual pipeline" strategy keeps construction on schedule at key sites. These include Project Jupiter, a massive campus in New Mexico. Other locations are an OpenAI facility in Texas and a site near Salt Lake City.
The workaround highlights immense energy requirements for new AI-focused data centers. It also underscores the growing difficulty of securing permanent power infrastructure.
The solution incurs significant cost. Trucked gas is estimated to be roughly four times more expensive than pipeline supply.
Delays for Project Jupiter in New Mexico began after state regulators rejected the pipeline's proposed route. This pushed its in-service date into 2027.