An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country
Amazon's new data center in Pecos County, Texas, will be powered by a dedicated natural gas plant that received a permit allowing it to emit up to 33 million tons of CO2. This potentially makes it one of the largest greenhouse gas producers in the US, raising concerns about Amazon's climate commitments. The plant would initially operate independently of the state's power grid.
Amazon's plans for a new data center in Pecos County, Texas, include constructing a dedicated natural gas power plant. This facility, known as GW Ranch, has been permitted by the state of Texas to release up to 33 million tons of CO2, a volume that could surpass the emissions of the nation's largest coal plants. The power plant, initially not connected to the state grid, would use 35 turbines to generate 7.65 gigawatts of electricity primarily for the new data center.
The permit's lax restrictions on pollution levels have drawn criticism, particularly as Amazon has publicly committed to being carbon neutral by 2040 through its Climate Pledge. While Amazon confirmed its purchase of the site and plans to buy power from GW Ranch, spokeswoman Margaret Callahan acknowledged that "The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge," but maintained the company's commitment.
Environmental advocates express concern that even a portion of the permitted emissions would significantly undermine Amazon's climate goals, as its overall emissions have increased due to the demands of AI-driven data centers. The trend of tech companies like Meta and Google building their own gas or coal-fired power plants to meet the escalating energy needs of AI data centers is also highlighted. The Trump administration's past efforts to relax restrictions on polluting power plants are also mentioned in relation to this broader trend.