Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant in West Texas that could become one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the United States. The facility, being built to power a new Amazon data centre, is located in Pecos County and has received significant backing from the company.
At least initially, the plant would not be connected to the state’s power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver 7.65 gigawatts of electricity directly to the new data centre. Amazon has confirmed that it purchased the site and intends to buy power from the operation, known as GW Ranch.
Emissions Permit Exceeds Largest Coal Plant
The gas-burning plant has received a permit from Texas allowing for the emission of up to 33 million tons of CO2, more than even the largest coal plant in the country. Plants rarely emit as much greenhouse gas as their permits allow, yet the restrictions on its pollution levels remain notably lax.
The move reflects a wider trend across the technology sector. Many companies, including Meta and Google, have started building their own power plants, turning to gas, coal, and other non-renewable energy sources as the demands of AI data centres have grown sharply. The Trump administration has sought to lift restrictions on such polluting power plants.
Pressure on Amazon’s Climate Pledge
Even if the GW Ranch site emits only a portion of the greenhouse gases it is permitted to, it would still represent a significant setback for Amazon’s Climate Pledge. Jeff Bezos pledged to make the company carbon neutral by 2040. However, its emissions have climbed for several years in a row due to the demands of AI.
An Amazon spokeswoman said that the world looks different now than when the company co-founded the climate pledge, but stated that its commitment had not changed. The plant’s permit allows for emissions of up to 33 million tons of CO2 annually.
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Image: theverge.com
