Cold weather and data centres drive up US greenhouse gas emissions

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 3 min read 100% complete January 13, 2026 at 11:01 AM

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medium article 3 min

In 2025, US greenhouse gas emissions rose by 2.4% after two years of decline, according to a Rhodium Group analysis. This increase was driven by a cold start to the year, which led to increased natural gas consumption for heating, and the growing energy demands of data centers and cryptocurrency mining, particularly in Texas and the Ohio Valley. To meet rising electricity demands, coal usage surged by 13% due to higher natural gas prices, despite the growth of solar power. The report indicates that policies of the previous administration did not significantly impact the rise in emissions. While coal power generation has shrunk significantly since 2007, the increased demand led to delayed coal plant retirements.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Trump administration 30% Ohio Valley 40% Jesse Lee 40% Climate Power 40% Texas 50% Michael Gaffney ×260% Rhodium Group ×270% United States ×490%

Keywords

greenhouse gas emissions 100% data centres 80% cryptocurrency 70% coal 70% electricity demand 60% natural gas 60% fossil fuels 50% solar power 40% climate change 40%