An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country

AINewsScienceAn Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the countryAn Amazon-owned site in Pecos County, Texas, received a permit to release up to 33 million tons of CO2.An Amazon-owned site in Pecos County, Texas, received a permit to release up to 33 million tons of CO2.by Terrence O'BrienAug 8, 2026, 5:53 PM UTCLinkShareGiftImage: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesPart OfAll the latest updates on AI data centerssee all updates Terrence O'Brien is the Verge’s weekend editor. He’s covered the tech industry for over 18 years and knows a thing or two about synths.To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US, according to the New York Times. The new gas-burning plant in Pecos County, Texas has received significant investment from Amazon and, at least initially, would not be connected to the state’s power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver its 7.65 gigawatts of electricity to the new data center.According to Cleanview, which tracks data centers and their associated power projects, GW Ranch received a permit from Texas allowing for the emission of up to 33 million tons of CO2, more than even the largest coal plant in the country. Plants rarely emit as much greenhouse gas as their permits allow, but it’s still notable that the restrictions on its pollution levels are so lax. Amazon has confirmed that it purchased the site and plans to purchase power from GW Ranch.RelatedTrump is making coal plants even dirtier as AI demands more energyMeta faces Democratic probe into plans to power a giant data center with gasIt’s a new heyday for gas thanks to data centersAmazon’s data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water last yearGoogle is turning on the gas for its data centersMany companies, including Meta and Google, have started building their own power plants, turning to gas, coal, and other non-renewable energy sources as the demands of AI data centers have skyrocketed. The Trump administration has sought to lift restrictions on such polluting power plants.Even if the GW Ranch site only emits a portion of the greenhouse gases it’s permitted to, it would still represent a significant setback for Amazon’s Climate Pledge. Jeff Bezos pledged to make his company carbon neutral by 2040. However, its emissions have climbed for several years in a row due to the demands of AI. Amazon spokeswoman Margaret Callahan told the New York Times that, “The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,” but that, “our commitment hasn’t changed.”Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Terrence O'BrienAIAmazonEnvironmentNewsScienceTechMore in: All the latest updates on AI data centersThe left and right agree on one thing: no data centersNilay PatelAug 6This week in the big AI data center buildout.Jay PetersAug 5At least 37 people have reportedly been arrested for protesting data centers.Jay PetersAug 4Most PopularMost PopularIs this $450 laptop from an unknown brand too good to be true?Buc-ee’s dodges John Oliver to sue another small businessNitecore’s latest power bank is the lightest and most compact yetAI bots started a religion — humans immediately followedWerewolf transformed my old gadgets into USB-C powered onesThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad