Amazon backs power plant that may become top source of US climate pollution
Amazon is investing in a natural gas-burning power plant in Pecos County, Texas, to power a new off-the-grid data center, drawing criticism for its potential environmental impact as a major source of climate pollution. This move is part of a broader trend among AI companies to secure their own power supplies, often through gas plants, to avoid grid connection delays. Public backlash, including a lawsuit against xAI in Mississippi, highlights growing concerns over the environmental and health impacts of such projects.
Amazon's artificial intelligence ambitions are increasingly reliant on a natural gas-burning power plant in Pecos County, Texas, which The New York Times reports could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States. This marks Amazon's first major investment in an off-the-grid data center, designed to bypass grid connection delays and meet surging AI demand.
This strategy mirrors that of other AI giants like xAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle, which are also investing in alternative power sources, including gas-burning plants, to ensure rapid data center deployment. The trend has sparked significant public backlash due to the harmful pollutants produced by these plants, which contribute to climate change and public health issues. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Mississippi, for instance, sued xAI to halt the operation of its gas turbines, a move the Trump administration opposed, arguing citizens lack the power to enforce the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) is also planning a lawsuit to force stricter pollution rules on US data center developers.
Critics argue Amazon's Texas project, permitted to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, clashes with its voluntary net-zero carbon emissions commitment by 2040. Amazon, however, maintains its commitment to the Climate Pledge and states its plan will not raise electricity costs for Texas families, while aiming to transition to grid-connected service over time. Cleanview, an environmental tracking company, exposed Amazon's plans and expressed concern that the rush to fulfill Amazon Web Services cloud orders could lead to increased emissions without adequate public health considerations. The Trump administration has further eased the path for such projects by rolling back environmental protections and declining to set nationwide standards, with states like Texas becoming hotspots for fast-tracked developments.