Amazon’s new 7.65GW Texas AI data center power plant could become the largest source of CO₂ pollution in the US — custom 35-turbine gas plant authorized to emit 33 million tons of annual greenhouse gases
(Image credit: Getty Images / Nathan Stirk)
- Copy link
- X
- Good on Amazon. Reply
- This is so great. I can't think of a better way to punish my future grandchildren and great grandchildren than this. They haven't been born yet. But having Amazon do this to their oxygen and water will be a fair punishment for any of their sins. And they're all born sinners! Thanks Amazon! Reply
- > chriswf said:
- In terms of total CO2 produced this means nothing. Hysteria over CO2 and global warming, climate change, or whatever the hysterics are calling it this week, is getting old. China is putting dozens of massive coal plants online. Why? Because even in the nation that makes the world's cheapest solar panels, sometimes on renewables still can't compete with always on fossil fuel. Reply
- > chriswf said:
- > bill001g said:
- > Conversely, Amazon had pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all its global business operations by 2040. Before 2040 earth’s surface temperature anomaly will have climbed to 2C, and will be well on the way to 3C - the current pace has accelerated to about half a degree climb per decade. These corporate pledges, as we all know deep down, are complete chicanery meant to make us feel ok about our implicit or explicit support of what big tech is doing in the world. Reply
- The title is overly sensational. Lots of things make more CO2 than this. The article points out this may be the largest CO2 producing power plant. Thats more reasonable. Also, nat gas is the only viable source left to the US after all the whiners blocked better technology. Reply
- > Ferlucio said:
- > Why\_Me said:
- View All 36 Comments
Share this article
Join the conversation
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter
A new Amazon data center is set to become the single largest source of environmental pollution in the U.S., according to a New York Times report on August 8. The tech giant — which already operates the most data centers worldwide — is reportedly building a natural gas power plant in Pecos County, Texas, to power its new data center at the same site. According to project permits, the plant would generate up to 7.65 gigawatts of power using 35 natural gas turbines. The new plant — which burns natural gas to generate electricity — has been authorized to release 33 million tons of CO₂ annually, more planet-warming gases than any other power plant in the country, says the NY Times report.
Conversely, Amazon had pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across all its global business operations by 2040. The company made the promise in 2019 when it initiated and co-founded The Climate Pledge — a voluntary coalition of over 700 companies and partners — aimed at addressing its own corporate footprint and rallying global supply chains. However, the company has seen its emissions rise each year for the past several years, something analysts attribute to a spike in data centers to support the AI boom. The company is currently building several additional AI data centers globally, including the one that the new gas plant would power in Texas.
Amazon has acknowledged the impact of its intense AI ambitions on its earlier climate pledges but insisted the company remained committed to them, despite obvious struggles. “The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,” said Margaret Callahan, an Amazon spokeswoman. Still, “our commitment hasn’t changed,” she said, echoing similar statements by Microsoft, which is struggling to fulfill its 2030 sustainability promise amid carbon-heavy AI expansion, but insists it remains committed to it.
Latest Videos FromTom's Hardware
Watch full video here:
As detailed in our data center power roadmap, an increasing number of hyperscalers and data center operators are switching from grid connections to dedicated on-site power generation. The “behind-the-meter” moves are being triggered mainly by the long timelines required to set up new power infrastructure to connect new power-hungry data centers to the grid, but also by growing anti-data center sentiments over irreversible hikes in the electricity bills of nearby communities.
While many companies are also pursuing nuclear and renewable energy options — examples being Microsoft’s Three Mile Island nuclear deal and Meta’s agreement to secure up to 1GW of orbital solar energy capacity — gas appears to be the leading preference due to its scalability and speed of availability. The Trump administration has thrown its weight behind such projects for data centers, promoting oil, natural gas, and coal over renewable energy sources.
Follow Tom's Hardware on Google News, or add us as a preferred source, to get our latest news, analysis, & reviews in your feeds.
Get Tom's Hardware's best news and in-depth reviews, straight to your inbox.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
TOPICS
Etiido Uko is a news contributor for Tom's Hardware covering the latest updates in big tech and the PC industry. He is a mechanical engineer and senior technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things engineering and technology, and is an expert in gadgets, manufacturing, robotics, automotive, and aerospace.
This is so great. I can't think of a better way to punish my future grandchildren and great grandchildren than this.
They haven't been born yet. But having Amazon do this to their oxygen and water will be a fair punishment for any of their sins. And they're all born sinners!
Thanks Amazon!Just be sure to tell all you kids to use birth control so your future grandchildren and great grandchildren do not exit. They all breath out the extremely toxic and evil CO2. Reply
This is so great. I can't think of a better way to punish my future grandchildren and great grandchildren than this.
They haven't been born yet. But having Amazon do this to their oxygen and water will be a fair punishment for any of their sins. And they're all born sinners!
chriswf said:
This kind of hysteria is why climate alarmists are not taken seriously about anything. Just so you know.Reply
Just be sure to tell all you kids to use birth control so your future grandchildren and great grandchildren do not exit. They all breath out the extremely toxic and evil CO2.I hope both sides of your pillow are always warm Reply
I hope both sides of your pillow are always warmThe previous comment was rather crudely stated, but they may have been alluding to the idea that human respiration counts for roughly 2.5-3 B tons of CO2 per year. Reply
Good on Amazon.Why is this good exactly? Lol Reply