Amazon to build massive Texas gas plant for AI data centers

Amazon is developing a massive data center campus in Pecos County, Texas, supported by its own dedicated natural gas power plant named GW Ranch. The facility is designed to meet the intense energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure by bypassing the local power grid.

The proposed power plant will feature 35 turbines with a total capacity of 7.65 gigawatts. If the facility reaches its permitted maximum, it could emit between 30 million and 33 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, potentially making it the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States. For comparison, these emissions levels are comparable to the annual output of entire nations such as Switzerland or Ireland.

To address local concerns in the arid region, Amazon stated it intends to use non-potable water for cooling its facilities. The company also maintains that this independent power approach will ensure that the new installations do not increase electricity prices for Texas households.