Amazon’s Texas AI Data Center: A Potential Top Contender for America’s Largest CO₂ Emitter
Amazon has recently come under intense environmental scrutiny. The company has confirmed plans for a colossal natural gas-powered plant in Pecos County, West Texas. This plant is set to fuel what could be Amazon’s largest AI data center campus to date, known as GW Ranch. The project has been granted an air permit for up to 7.65 gigawatts of gas-fired electricity generation, powered by 35 natural gas turbines.
As reported by the New York Times on August 8, the plant is authorized to release an astounding 33 million tons of CO₂ annually. This quantity surpasses that of any other single power plant in the United States. Consequently, GW Ranch could become the nation’s single largest source of climate pollution.
The facility represents Amazon’s first off-grid AI data center campus. It also incorporates 1.8 GW of battery storage and 750 MWac of solar capacity. This indicates that it is not solely a fossil fuel operation. Amazon aims to commence power delivery from the site by Q1 2027. Satellite imagery from late July 2026 already depicts active land clearing in progress.
This announcement brings Amazon’s net-zero carbon pledges into question. An Amazon spokesperson stated, “The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge,” but maintained, “Our commitment hasn’t changed.” Critics point out that Amazon’s carbon emissions increased by 16% last year, largely due to AI infrastructure growth. Microsoft has also revealed plans for a nearby 2 GW dedicated gas project in Texas, indicating an industry-wide trend.
Source: TechCrunch — Planned Amazon data center could become the biggest climate polluter in the U.S.