Amazon is backing construction of a natural gas power plant in Pecos County, Texas, to supply electricity to a new data center facility. The GW Ranch plant would operate 35 natural gas turbines with a capacity of 7.65 gigawatts and would initially function as a dedicated power source rather than connecting to the state’s electrical grid.
According to Cleanview, a data center tracking organization, the facility received a permit from Texas regulators allowing emissions of up to 33 million tons of CO2 annually. This permitted emission level exceeds that of the largest coal plant operating in the United States. While power plants typically do not emit greenhouse gases at the maximum permitted levels, the relatively high allowance has drawn attention from environmental observers. Amazon has confirmed its purchase of the site and stated plans to procure power from the facility.
The development reflects a broader industry trend, with companies including Meta and Google also constructing their own power generation facilities to meet surging energy demands from artificial intelligence data centers. These companies have turned to gas, coal, and other fossil fuel sources to power their operations. The current federal administration has indicated interest in relaxing restrictions on such facilities.
The project presents a challenge to Amazon’s environmental commitments. Founder Jeff Bezos pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 through the Climate Pledge initiative. However, Amazon’s reported emissions have risen consecutively over recent years, attributed to AI infrastructure expansion. In a statement to media outlets, Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan acknowledged that circumstances have shifted but maintained that the company’s fundamental commitment remains unchanged.
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