Amazon’s New AI Data Center Is So Enormous That It Appears It Will Become the Largest Single Source of Pollution in the United States
"The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge." The post Amazon’s New AI Data Center Is So Enormous That It Appears It Will Become the Largest Single Source of Pollution in the United States appeared first on Futurism .
Amazon Web Services is constructing an AI data center in Texas, so vast that it may become the United States' primary source of carbon emissions. According to the New York Times, Amazon has invested in a substantial gas-fired power plant to provide up to 7.65 gigawatts of energy to the data center in Pecos County. The plant's 35 turbines are set to emit 33 million tons of CO2 annually, making it the largest single source of emissions in the country, rivaling the emissions of entire nations like Switzerland, Ireland, and Bulgaria.
This massive carbon footprint starkly contrasts with Amazon's stated climate goals, which aim for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The tech giant's spokesperson, Margaret Callahan, acknowledged the changing world since the climate pledge was established. However, Amazon's overall emissions have surged, with company-wide electricity usage increasing by 34% in 2025.
The company's blatant disregard for its previous climate commitments is not surprising as it continues to set new emission records each year.
Written by urgent.news from Futurism's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
