Amazon Data Center Linked to Nation’s Most Polluting Power Plant

Amazon is ramping up its efforts in West Texas with plans for a new power plant that could become one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. This gas-burning facility, located in Pecos County, has seen substantial investment from Amazon and will initially operate independently from the state’s power grid. Its 35 natural-gas turbines are set to generate 7.65 gigawatts of electricity primarily for a new data center.

According to Cleanview, which monitors data centers and their energy projects, GW Ranch has been granted a permit allowing it to emit up to 33 million tons of CO2, surpassing even the largest coal plant in the nation. While actual emissions typically fall short of permitted levels, the leniency of these pollution restrictions is concerning. Amazon has confirmed its acquisition of the site and plans to source power from GW Ranch.

In response to the soaring energy demands of AI data centers, many tech giants, including Meta and Google, are also investing in their own power plants, relying on gas, coal, and other non-renewable energy sources. The previous administration aimed to ease regulations on such environmentally harmful power plants.

Even if GW Ranch emits only a fraction of its permitted greenhouse gases, it poses a significant challenge to Amazon’s Climate Pledge. Jeff Bezos committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, yet emissions have risen for several consecutive years due to AI demands. An Amazon spokesperson noted that, “The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,” but reassured that, “our commitment hasn’t changed.”