The intersection of artificial intelligence and U.S. energy production has reached a new milestone. A series of large infrastructure projects underscore the critical role of natural gas in supporting data centers. For investors in midstream ETFs, these developments highlight a significant structural tailwind for the energy infrastructure sector.

Key Takeaways

• Massive data center projects are increasingly relying on dedicated natural gas power plants to bypass overtaxed utility grids.
• The shift toward “behind-the-meter” generation creates long-term contract opportunities and necessitates new lateral pipeline builds for established midstream players.
• The Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) is uniquely positioned to capture this demand, as it provides targeted exposure to the very companies building natural gas infrastructure.

Massive Data Center Builds Drive Long-Term Contract Opportunities for Energy Infrastructure

A substantial announcement came from SoftBank Group, which is developing a 9.2-gigawatt (GW) data center project in Piketon, Ohio. The initiative includes a $33 billion dedicated natural gas power plant. Kinder Morgan (KMI) was announced as the sole midstream company involved in the consortium organized to develop the project, positioning KMI to leverage its existing pipeline footprint in Ohio to meet the facility’s significant natural gas requirements.

This Ohio project is part of a broader $550 billion U.S.-Japan strategic investment initiative. The deal is also facilitating a major expansion in Texas, where NextEra Energy (NEE) has secured land for a 5.2 GW natural gas power hub. This facility should support the grid in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market. It will leverage East Texas’s abundant gas supply. 

Similarly, Entergy Louisiana is building seven new gas-fueled plants totaling over 5.2 GW of capacity to support a Richland Parish data center hub for Meta. Midstream operator Energy Transfer (ET) has a 20-year agreement with Entergy Louisiana to supply natural gas to this facility.

Structural Tailwinds for Energy Infrastructure ETFs

The Ohio and Louisiana power solutions represent a pivot toward behind-the-meter generation. This shift comes as utility grids struggle to keep pace with AI power requirements. For the midstream sector, this shift has already translated into long-term contracts and the need for new lateral pipeline builds. Investors should note that while renewables remain a priority, the reliability, speed, and scale of natural gas are proving indispensable for the needs of AI data centers (read more).

The Alerian Energy Infrastructure ETF (ENFR) is uniquely positioned to capture this demand, as it provides targeted exposure to the very companies building this infrastructure. By tracking the Alerian Midstream Energy Select Index (AMEI), ENFR offers a portfolio where natural gas infrastructure represents nearly 70% of the total weighting. Furthermore, the AMEI boasts an attractive yield of 4.7% as of April 9. This represents an income component alongside the secular growth story of AI.

Beyond natural gas, the U.S.-Japan trade deal is also strengthening the nuclear sector. The agreement includes significant funding for GE Vernova Hitachi to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) in Tennessee and Alabama. As previously reported, this federal and international backing is a key catalyst for nuclear-focused ETFs, providing a zero-carbon power alternative to complement the gas-heavy data center surge.

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