Amazon secures 20-year geothermal power deal for Nevada data centers

Amazon announced a 700‑megawatt clean‑energy package for its Nevada data centers, anchored by a 100‑MW geothermal power purchase agreement with developer Zanskar that runs for 20 years through 2050. The portfolio also includes 600 MW of solar generation and 600 MWh of battery storage supplied by Primergy, creating near‑continuous carbon‑free power for the facilities that support AI workloads.

At the same time, U.S. AI data center builders are locating new sites in regions experiencing severe drought, raising concerns about water consumption and grid strain. A recent analysis found that only about 4 % of AI‑related water use is direct, while the bulk stems from power generation (≈54 %) and semiconductor manufacturing (≈42 %). Some municipalities, such as Seattle, have responded with temporary bans on new data‑center projects due to rising electricity costs and limited local benefits. Both stories underscore the growing challenge of delivering reliable, sustainable energy to meet expanding AI compute demand in the United States.