The project involves the construction of 35 gas turbines, and the power plant’s operating permit allows for emissions of up to 33 million metric tons of CO₂ per year, according to the Chron.
The project is located in Pecos County on the GW Ranch. According to the Chron, Amazon has acquired the site and confirmed its intention to build a data center campus there. Electricity will be purchased from Pacifico Energy, which is developing the gas-fired power plant.
AI Data Center Gets Its Own Power Source
In the first phase, the facility will not draw electricity from the general Texas grid. An Amazon spokesperson stated that the new power generation will allow the company to fully cover the energy costs of its operations without raising electricity prices for state residents. “Our planned new data center campus in Pecos County does exactly that: it draws power from new on-site generation,” the company said.
Amazon also reported that it expects to eventually connect to the power grid once the necessary infrastructure is built.
The company is considering the use of solar power and on-site battery systems. To cool the data center, Amazon intends to use water that is unsuitable for drinking or irrigation, as well as technologies that reduce water consumption, according to the Chron report.
AI’s Energy Appetite Is Transforming Data Center Infrastructure
Amazon’s project demonstrates how quickly the growth in AI computing workloads is beginning to impact energy infrastructure.
The traditional model involves connecting data centers to the existing power grid. However, building AI infrastructure requires such large amounts of power that tech companies are beginning to seek alternative solutions—ranging from direct contracts with energy companies to building their own power generation facilities.
In Amazon’s case, we’re talking about 7.65 GW of capacity. For comparison: this is comparable to the capacity of several large power plants, with natural gas serving as the primary energy source.
At the same time, GW Ranch’s permitted emissions could reach 33 million metric tons of CO₂ per year. This is specifically the maximum amount allowed under the permit, not a forecast of the facility’s actual emissions, the publication notes.
Amazon states that it remains committed to its goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The company also plans to use solar power, energy storage, and alternative water sources at the site, the Chron report emphasizes.
Texas Seeks Balance Between AI and Energy
The publication notes that the project is moving forward amid growing attention from Texas authorities to the energy and environmental impacts of data center expansion.
Governor Greg Abbott previously directed regulators to ensure that large data centers pay for the electrical infrastructure they require and do not pass on additional costs to residential consumers. Authorities are also tightening oversight of data centers’ impact on water resources and surrounding communities.
Amazon is not the only technology company considering on-site power generation as a way to support its growing AI infrastructure. In the same region, Chevron has signed a 20-year agreement for natural gas-fired power generation for a large Microsoft data center.
Thus, the development of artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming not only a matter of computing power, but also a matter of access to electricity, gas, water, and the necessary infrastructure.
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