Amazon's new Texas data center could become the single largest polluter in the US

Key Points:

• Amazon plans to build a massive data center in Pecos County, Texas, powered by an on-site natural gas plant with 35 turbines generating up to 7.65 gigawatts, which has raised concerns about pollution and local impacts.
• The facility is approved to emit up to 33 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, potentially making it the largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, surpassing any other factory or power plant.
• Critics highlight that the emissions would rival those of entire countries such as Switzerland, Ireland, and Bulgaria, conflicting with Amazon's 2019 Climate Pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
• Amazon states the data center will not increase local electricity costs and maintains its commitment to a carbon-neutral future despite rising emissions and changing circumstances since the Climate Pledge was made.
• The project complies with the "Ratepayer Protection Pledge," requiring tech companies to use self-generated power for new AI data centers, a policy signed by major tech firms under President Trump's administration amid growing investment in AI infrastructure.