President Trump has proposed a big gas-fired power plant in Ohio, which could become one of the largest sources of carbon emissions in the U.S. The project is estimated to cost around $33 billion and is backed by SoftBank Group Corp. It aims for a capacity of 9.2 gigawatts, enough to power millions of homes, but it raises serious climate concerns.
SoftBank hasn’t provided comments, and the U.S. Department of Commerce hasn’t responded either. Estimates suggest that this plant could emit between 16.2 million and 19.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. To put that into perspective, that’s similar to the emissions from nearly 4 million gasoline cars driving for a year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. For context, the James H. Miller Jr. coal-fired plant in Alabama produced about 16.6 million tons in 2023.
This proposed gas plant aligns with Japan’s plan to invest $550 billion in the U.S., part of a trade deal from last year. It also reflects Trump’s aim to boost the fossil fuel industry. Recently, Trump asked the Pentagon to increase coal energy use, while the EPA has rolled back rules on greenhouse gas emissions.
A coalition of 29 environmental groups is urging Japan not to invest in fossil fuel projects in the U.S. Despite the potential for the new plant to replace coal and lower emissions, experts believe it will primarily serve the growing demand from data centers. Nathalie Limandibhratha, an analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), notes that the Ohio plant could help meet the rising electricity needs in the PJM Interconnection region, which includes Ohio and nearby states.
According to a BNEF report, U.S. power generation reached its highest level in two decades last year. The rise in demand, especially from data centers, lifted the percentage of coal and gas to about 56% of total electricity generation, with power sector emissions increasing by 3.6% in 2025.
As the energy landscape continues to evolve, this project highlights the tensions between economic growth and environmental sustainability.
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