Scoop: Amazon Is Behind One of the Largest Planned Gas Power Plants in the US

Amazon confirmed Friday it acquired the GW Ranch site in Pecos County, Texas, where it plans to build an AI data center campus powered by a 7.65 gigawatt natural gas plant that would be among the largest in the United States. The company said the facility will operate off the Texas electricity grid initially and use 35 turbines to generate power for its operations. A state permit issued in January allows the gas plant to emit up to 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, which would make it the largest single source of greenhouse gas pollution in the country if fully utilized. Amazon said it remains committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 under The Climate Pledge, though the project would push those goals further out of reach as the company's emissions are already rising quickly. The project surfaced this week when Amazon filed three construction permits with the state showing plans to build three data center buildings with construction beginning immediately. Satellite imagery reviewed by Cleanview confirmed land clearing had begun at the site. Amazon said it plans to buy power from the plant, which is being developed by Pacifico Energy, and will use non-potable brackish groundwater for operations. The deal marks Amazon's first major investment in an off-grid data center, joining Microsoft, Google and Meta in significant natural gas power investments this year. Data center developers have announced nearly 60 behind-the-meter gas power projects since January with a combined capacity of 90 gigawatts, according to Cleanview. Amazon also confirmed it is in talks with developers of a 4.5 gigawatt gas plant in Homer City, Pennsylvania.