Amazon is investing in a data center in Texas that includes an on-site natural gas power plant, which could become the largest source of climate pollution in the United States. The plant is permitted to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide per year—more than any other power plant in the country.
Amazon's carbon emissions rose 16% last year, moving in the wrong direction for a company that pledged to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2040. An Amazon spokesperson said, "The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge," while also claiming the company's commitment hasn't changed.
The spokesperson stated the data center will be "powered by new on-site generation that won't raise electricity costs for Texas families." Data centers face growing political opposition due to their effects on electricity costs and environmental impact.