Amazon backs power plant that may become top source of US climate pollution
Amazon is facing criticism for backing a natural gas-burning power plant in Texas to support its AI data center ambitions. Critics argue the project will significantly increase climate pollution, while the company seeks to bypass traditional environmental permitting processes.
Why it matters
The tension between the massive energy demands of AI development and environmental sustainability goals is becoming a major point of contention for tech giants.
Absolute power? Amazon backs power plant that may become top source of US climate pollution Amazon announces first off-the-grid data center in race to reap AI profits.
20 Plus Plus Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Amazon’s artificial intelligence ambitions will soon be partly fueled by a natural gas-burning power plant in Texas that “could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States,” The New York Times reported .
These gas-burning plants are increasingly lumped into data center projects. They produce harmful pollutants, which can accelerate climate change impacts and harm public health—contributing to conditions like asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes. Some communities are demanding more stringent environmental reviews, but the Trump administration favors fast-tracking that can include skipping the permitting process entirely.
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