Amazon Texas data centre could become US’s largest polluter
The tech giant’s first independent artificial intelligence hub in Texas is backed by a gas plant capable of generating 7.65 gigawatts, raising environmental concerns.
Amazon is constructing a new artificial intelligence data centre in Texas that has been permitted to release up to 33 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. The facility, which will be the company’s first off-grid AI site, is supported by a dedicated natural gas power plant expected to generate up to 7.65 gigawatts of electricity.
According to reporting from the New York Times, Cleanview, and The Verge, the scale of the permitted emissions means the site could become the single largest polluting power plant in the United States. The classification relies on the facility’s maximum permitted output rather than confirmed operational data, as the plant has not yet begun full commercial operations.
The project highlights the intensifying energy demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure. As tech companies expand their computational capabilities, the need for dedicated, high-capacity power sources has grown, often leading to the development of independent energy facilities rather than relying on existing public grids.
Environmental observers note that the carbon footprint of such large-scale technology infrastructure is a growing concern. The specific permit details for the Texas site were highlighted in recent reports, underscoring the tension between rapid technological advancement and environmental impact.
While the facility is projected to be the most polluting power plant in the country based on these limits, it remains unclear if other existing US power plants have higher actual annual emissions. The comparison is based on permitted limits, which may differ from historical output data for other industrial sites.
