Amazon appears poised for nearly $1B West Texas data center project
Amazon is reportedly moving forward with a nearly $1 billion data center project in Fort Stockton, Pecos County, Texas, despite a temporary statewide halt on data center approvals by Governor Greg Abbott. The project involves three buildings, with construction already underway. This development highlights ongoing community concerns regarding the significant water and power demands of data centers in the region.
Governor Greg Abbott has temporarily paused approvals for new data centers across Texas; however, Amazon appears to be moving forward with a significant data center project in Fort Stockton, Pecos County. The development, valued at nearly $1 billion, includes three 189,000-square-foot buildings for Amazon Data Services, with construction having commenced on August 1 and scheduled to wrap up on December 1, though timelines are subject to change.
The project details, including three Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filings, indicate a $300 million price tag for each building. The new data center's connection to the previously announced AI-driven Project Horizon, which claims to address water consumption concerns with a closed-loop system in an isolated area, remains unclear.
This development occurs amid broader discussions in Texas communities weighing the promised economic benefits against environmental impacts, particularly concerning water usage and power demands. Robert Bonar, CEO of Poolside Infrastructure Company, noted the increasing public resistance to data centers in other areas like Ohio and Pennsylvania due to their effects on water, power rates, and land prices.