Amazon's Texas Power Plant Threatens Climate Goals
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A planned data center in Pecos County may utilize a natural gas plant that would exceed all other U.S. power plants in carbon emissions.
As TechCrunch first reported, Amazon is investing in an on-site power plant for a planned data center in Pecos County, Texas. According to reporting from The New York Times, this facility could potentially become the largest source of climate pollution in the United States.
The facility would burn natural gas and is permitted to emit 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, a figure The New York Times notes is higher than any other power plant currently in the U.S. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the data center will utilize new on-site generation, stating the move ensures electricity costs for Texas families will not increase.
This deployment comes as Amazon faces challenges meeting its pledge to eliminate carbon emissions by 2040. TechCrunch reports that Amazon's carbon emissions rose 16% last year, an increase driven by the impact of AI. While an Amazon spokesperson claimed the company's commitment to its climate goals has not changed, they acknowledged that "the world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge."