Climate-tech funding hit $14 billion as data centers drive demand

Climate-tech startup funding topped $14 billion in Q1 2026, PitchBook data shows, rising for a fourth straight quarter. Most funding went to buildings and construction, power grid upgrades, and dispatchable energy — power sources available on demand. The numbers circulated at New York Climate Week, Sept. 20-27, where rising data-center electricity use dominated founder and investor discussion.