Amazon is investing in an on-site power plant as part of a planned data centre in Pecos County, Texas. This plant could reportedly become the largest source of climate pollution in the United States, according to The New York Times.
The New York Times states the plant would burn natural gas and is permitted to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. This figure is more than any other power plant in the U.S.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the data centre will "be powered by new on-site generation that won’t raise electricity costs for Texas families." The spokesperson also noted, "The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge," while asserting, "Our commitment hasn’t changed."
Amazon's carbon emissions reportedly increased by 16% last year. The company had previously pledged to eliminate its carbon emissions by 2040.