Anthropic, the artificial intelligence research company, secured 1.7 gigawatts of natural gas-fired generators in a $3.4 billion deal finalized in late September. The agreement involves Anthropic taking over an existing equipment order placed with Caterpillar by OnePWR Solutions, an energy infrastructure provider. This transaction represents the largest known single purchase of power-generation equipment by an AI laboratory.The purchase addresses a growing challenge for AI developers: securing sufficient and timely access to electricity for their expanding data centers. Natural gas turbine backlogs currently extend into the early 2030s, and connection queues for electrical grids can be similarly lengthy. By acquiring an existing order, Anthropic gains a claim on scarce generating capacity, which is crucial as demand for computing power escalates.Anthropic's S-1 registration statement, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on October 26, 2026, highlighted the company's increasing reliance on natural gas-fired power for its AI data centers. The filing noted that some planned facilities would utilize on-site natural gas turbines. It also identified competition for power access, suitable data center locations, fuel price volatility, and supply chain constraints as significant financial and operational risks.The company had previously announced a $50 billion plan to construct data centers in Texas and New York. Its SEC filing indicated that competition with hyperscalers and cloud providers for gas and pipeline capacity could increase natural gas prices. Anthropic also acknowledged that rising global temperatures could elevate operating costs due to increased demand for electricity and water for server cooling.This direct investment in energy infrastructure marks a shift for Anthropic, which has historically relied on renting physical infrastructure and computing power from partners. The company is currently paying xAI, a subsidiary of SpaceX, $1.25 billion per month through May 2029 for computing power.Other technology companies have also made similar moves to secure power generation capacity. xAI purchased mobile gas turbines for $2 billion earlier this year, and Alphabet acquired energy company Intersect last year for $4.75 billion. Microsoft has partnered with Chevron to develop a 2.67 gigawatt gas-fired power plant dedicated to data centers in Texas.The $3.4 billion agreement with OnePWR Solutions and Caterpillar includes not only the heavy-duty generators but also the engineering and construction services required for installation. Anthropic did not acquire OnePWR itself, nor did it transfer any of OnePWR's employees. The specific installation sites and delivery schedule for the equipment have not been publicly disclosed.Caterpillar's third-quarter 2026 results, released on October 29, 2026, reported a 30% year-over-year increase in Power Generation sales, reaching $3.42 billion. The company attributed this rise primarily to turbines and large reciprocating engines used in data-center applications, noting strong order rates and a record backlog across its business.The acquisition of these generators positions Anthropic to gain more direct control over the energy supply for its AI operations, a critical factor for its planned initial public offering (IPO). Anthropic filed a registration statement for Class A common stock on October 26, 2026, and intends to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol ANT.