Amazon's Texas Power Plant Plans Clash With Net-Zero Pledges
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A planned data center in Pecos County could become the largest climate polluter in the U.S. via on-site natural gas combustion.
As TechCrunch first reported, Amazon is planning an on-site power plant for a data center in Pecos County, Texas, which The New York Times says could emerge as the largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. According to The New York Times, the facility would burn natural gas and is permitted to emit 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, surpassing any other power plant in the country.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the data center will utilize new on-site generation, stating the move is intended to ensure electricity costs for Texas families do not rise. The spokesperson added that while "the world looks different now" than when the company co-founded the climate pledge, Amazon's commitment to its goals has not changed.
These developments come as Amazon faces increasing pressure over its environmental impact. TechCrunch reports that Amazon's carbon emissions rose 16% last year, driven by the demands of AI. This increase contradicts the company's pledge to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2040. TechCrunch notes that this trend may accelerate as tech companies continue to support the development of massive natural gas plants to fuel power-hungry data centers.