An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country | The Verge

Overview

Tech Expand Amazon Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Samsung Business See all tech

Reviews Expand Smart Home Reviews Phone Reviews Tablet Reviews Headphone Reviews See all reviews

Details

Science Expand Space Energy Environment Health See all science

Entertainment Expand TV Shows Movies Audio See all entertainment

Policy Expand Antitrust Politics Law Security See all policy

Gadgets Expand Laptops Phones TVs Headphones Speakers Wearables See all gadgets

Verge Shopping Expand Buying Guides Deals Gift Guides See all shopping

Streaming Expand Disney HBONetflix You Tube Creators See all streaming

Transportation Expand Electric Cars Autonomous Cars Ride-sharing Scooters See all transportation

AIClose AIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All AI

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Science Close Science Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Science

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country

An Amazon-owned site in Pecos County, Texas, received a permit to release up to 33 million tons of CO2.

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US, according to the New York Times. The new gas-burning plant in Pecos County, Texas has received significant investment from Amazon and, at least initially, would not be connected to the state’s power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver its 7.65 gigawatts of electricity to the new data center.

According to Cleanview, which tracks data centers and their associated power projects, GW Ranch 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, but it’s still notable that the restrictions on its pollution levels are so lax. Amazon has confirmed that it purchased the site and plans to purchase power from GW Ranch.

Trump is making coal plants even dirtier as AI demands more energy

Meta faces Democratic probe into plans to power a giant data center with gas

Amazon’s data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water last year

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 centers have skyrocketed. The Trump administration has sought to lift restrictions on such polluting power plants.

Even if the GW Ranch site only emits a portion of the greenhouse gases it’s permitted to, it would still represent a significant setback for Amazon’s Climate Pledge. Jeff Bezos pledged to make his company carbon neutral by 2040. However, its emissions have climbed for several years in a row due to the demands of AI. Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan told the New York Times that, “The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,” but that, “our commitment hasn’t changed.”

Terrence O'Brien Close Terrence O'Brien Weekend Editor Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All by Terrence O'Brien

Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

AIClose AIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All AI

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Amazon Close Amazon Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Amazon

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Environment Close Environment Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Environment

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

News Close News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All News

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Science Close Science Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Science

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

Tech Close Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. Follow Follow See All Tech

Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.

More in: All the latest updates on AI data centers

Werewolf transformed my old gadgets into USB-C powered ones

Jony Ive’s first Open AI gadget is reportedly a hockey puck-sized smart speaker

AI bots started a religion — humans immediately followed

Trying to explain One Night Only’s tech-enforced sex dystopia

Key Takeaways

Tech Expand Amazon Apple Facebook Google Microsoft Samsung Business See all tech
Reviews Expand Smart Home Reviews Phone Reviews Tablet Reviews Headphone Reviews See all reviews
Science Expand Space Energy Environment Health See all science
Entertainment Expand TV Shows Movies Audio See all entertainment
Policy Expand Antitrust Politics Law Security See all policy