Amazon builds a 35-turbine gas plant in Texas for its AI data centers, betting raw fossil power on artificial intelligence

Texas regulators have authorized the construction of a large-scale natural gas power plant in Pecos County, Texas, designed to supply electricity to Amazon's upcoming AI data center campus. The permit, issued to Pacifico GW for the GW Ranch Energy Center, allows for 35 simple-cycle gas turbines, with an initial phase targeting 1 GW of power by early 2027. The project also plans to incorporate 1.8 GW of battery storage and 750 MW of solar power.

The permitted emissions for the gas plant are substantial, with a potential annual output of 33.2 million U.S. tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which could represent 37% of Amazon's entire 2025 corporate carbon footprint. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved the air permit, finding pollution controls consistent with best available technology and predicting no exceedance of national ambient air quality standards. The permit also authorizes significant annual releases of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and ammonia.

Amazon has confirmed its purchase of the site and plans to buy electricity from the project, stating that the on-site generation will not raise electricity costs for Texas families. The company also claims it will use nonpotable water and custom cooling technology. However, critics question how this fossil-fuel-intensive project aligns with Amazon's public commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2040, especially given a 16% increase in its carbon footprint and a 34% rise in purchased electricity emissions in 2025, partly due to data center demand. The project highlights the increasing electricity demands of the AI industry and the challenges in reconciling rapid growth with environmental pledges.