Amazon's Texas data center may become the top U.S. carbon emitter
Original: Planned Amazon data center could become the biggest climate polluter in the U.S.
Why This Matters
The project highlights deepening tension between Big Tech's AI expansion and prior net-zero carbon commitments.
Amazon is developing a data center in Pecos County, Texas, with an on-site natural gas power plant permitted to emit 33 million tons of CO2 per year — potentially making it the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States, per The New York Times.
According to The New York Times, Amazon's planned data center in Pecos County, Texas, will include an on-site natural gas-burning power plant permitted to release up to 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually — exceeding the emissions of any existing U.S. power plant. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the facility will be 'powered by new on-site generation that won't raise electricity costs for Texas families,' addressing a key point of political opposition against data centers. The development comes as Amazon reported its carbon emissions rose 16% last year, a trend the company attributed in part to AI infrastructure growth. Amazon had previously pledged to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2040 under the Climate Pledge it co-founded. When pressed on the contradiction, the spokesperson stated, 'The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,' while insisting, 'Our commitment hasn't changed.' The project reflects a broader industry shift, with multiple tech companies backing large natural gas plants to power AI-driven data centers.