Proposed Texas AI power plants could emit 287 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, report says
A new report reveals 32 proposed natural gas power plants in Texas to serve AI data centers, which could emit hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gases annually. This expansion raises significant concerns about air pollution, water use, and public health, with community opposition already forming in affected areas. Advocacy groups are calling for greater transparency, public hearings, and a shift towards renewable energy sources.
The Environmental Integrity Project released a report identifying 32 proposed natural gas power plants in Texas intended to directly power artificial intelligence data centers. These projects, the largest concentration in any U.S. state, are estimated to collectively emit over 287 million tons of greenhouse gases and thousands of tons of other pollutants annually, exacerbating air pollution and public health concerns. Jen Duggan, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project, criticized the reliance on fossil fuels for future technology and emphasized the public's right to transparency and hearings before such projects proceed.
The report highlighted several large planned facilities, including Project Matador near Amarillo, the GW Ranch Energy Center, the Texas Power Generation Hub, the FO Permian Partners Data Center Complex, and the Nexus Data Center Hubbard Power Plant, some of which are projected to be among the nation's highest emitters. Kendra Seawright of the Panhandle 1st Coalition voiced strong community opposition near Project Matador, expressing worries about air quality and public health impacts. The study also raised concerns about significant water consumption by both AI data centers and gas plants, particularly in drought-prone West Texas.
Griffin Bird, the report's lead author, stressed the importance of local communities having a greater say in these development decisions and advocating for public review processes that are not rushed. Despite Texas's existing natural gas infrastructure and state incentives, such as the Texas Energy Fund, the Environmental Integrity Project recommends a shift towards renewable energy, battery storage, and cleaner technologies, along with robust public oversight of permitting processes, to meet the surging electricity demand from AI and digital infrastructure.