Country’s Largest Air Pollution Permit Issued to Power Plant for Data Centers in West Texas, Developer Says

Texas environmental regulators issued the country's largest air pollution permit to Pacifico Energy's planned 7.65 gigawatt GW Ranch, a massive complex of gas power plants and data centers near the Permian Basin. This is one of several colossal projects in Texas that have made the state a global epicenter of gas power development, fueled by growing demand from the artificial intelligence industry. These planned facilities could become some of the largest emissions sources in the U.S. and the world, releasing over 12,000 tons of air pollutants and up to 33 million tons of greenhouse gases annually. However, energy experts note that not all announced projects may be built, and even completed facilities may not reach full capacity. The rapid expansion of gas power for data centers has raised concerns among local communities affected by the pollution.