Amazon's Texas Power Project Faces Scrutiny Over Massive Carbon Permit
AI-generated image · US National Wire
A new gas-burning plant intended to power an Amazon data center in Pecos County has been permitted to release more CO2 than the largest coal plant in the U.S.
Amazon is investing in a new power plant to support a data center in Pecos County, Texas, that could become one of the most significant producers of greenhouse gases in the United States, according to reporting from The Verge citing the New York Times.
The facility, known as GW Ranch, consists of 35 natural-gas turbines designed to provide 7.65 gigawatts of electricity. The Verge reports that the plant would initially operate independently of the state power grid to deliver electricity directly to the data center. Data from Cleanview indicates that GW Ranch received a permit from Texas allowing the emission of up to 33 million tons of CO2, a figure that exceeds the emissions of the largest coal plant in the country.
Amazon has confirmed its purchase of the site and its intention to buy power from GW Ranch. The move comes as AI demands drive companies like Google and Meta to build their own power plants using non-renewable sources. This development poses a challenge to the Climate Pledge established by Jeff Bezos, which aims for Amazon to be carbon neutral by 2040. The Verge notes that Amazon's emissions have risen for several consecutive years due to AI requirements.
Responding to the New York Times, Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan stated that while the world has changed since the inception of the climate pledge, the company's commitment remains the same.