An Amazon data center could have the worst polluting power plant in the country

<figure> <img alt="Graphic image of a data center." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/STKS528_DATA_CENTERS2_A.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">To power its new West Texas data center, Amazon is investing in the construction of a new power plant that could be one of the largest single producers of greenhouse gases in the US, according to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/08/climate/amazon-data-center-texas-pollution.html"><em>New York Times</em></a>. The new gas-burning plant in Pecos County, Texas has received significant investment from Amazon and, at least initially, would not be connected to the state's power grid. Instead, its 35 natural-gas turbines would primarily deliver its 7.65 gigawatts of electricity to the new data center.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to <a href="https://newsletter.cleanview.co/p/scoop-amazon-is-behind-one-of-the"><em>Cleanview</em></a>, which tracks data centers and their associated power projects, GW Ranch received a permit from Texas allowing for the …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/977124/amazon-data-center-worst-polluting-power-plant">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>