Amazon is planning an on-site natural gas power plant for a data center in Pecos County, Texas, that could become the largest source of climate pollution in the United States, according to a report from The New York Times. The plant is reportedly permitted to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, surpassing any other power plant currently operating in the country.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the facility will be powered by new on-site generation, adding that the setup is designed not to raise electricity costs for Texas residents. The announcement comes as data centers face increasing political pushback nationwide, partly over concerns about their impact on local electricity prices.
The project reflects AI’s growing strain on Amazon’s environmental commitments. The company reported a 16% rise in carbon emissions last year, moving further from its pledge to eliminate emissions by 2040. The increase comes as Amazon and other major tech companies continue backing large-scale natural gas infrastructure to meet the substantial power demands of AI-driven data centers.
Addressing the shift, the Amazon spokesperson acknowledged that circumstances have changed significantly since the company co-founded its original climate pledge, while maintaining that its underlying commitment to that goal remains unchanged.
