To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in a new gas-burning power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US. The GW Ranch plant in Pecos County, Texas, would have 35 natural-gas turbines primarily delivering 7.65 gigawatts of electricity directly to the data center, initially without connection to the state power grid.
The plant received a permit allowing emissions of up to 33 million tons of CO2, more than even the largest coal plant in the country. While plants rarely emit as much as their permits allow, environmental advocates note the pollution restrictions are notably lax.
Amazon has confirmed purchasing the site and plans to purchase power from GW Ranch. The company remains committed to its Climate Pledge, which aimed for carbon neutrality by 2040, though its emissions have climbed for several years due to AI demands. Spokeswoman Margaret Callahan said the commitment hasn't changed, noting "the world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge."