Amazon backs power plant that may become top source of US climate pollution

Amazon is backing a natural gas-burning power plant in Texas to fuel its artificial intelligence data centers, a project that The New York Times reports could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States. The move highlights a growing trend among tech giants to bypass traditional grid infrastructure by building their own off-grid power sources. These gas-burning plants emit harmful pollutants linked to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, and strokes, accelerating climate change and endangering public health. While some communities are demanding stricter environmental reviews, the Trump administration favors fast-tracking such projects, sometimes skipping the permitting process entirely.

The controversy intensified after Elon Musk’s xAI began using gas turbines last spring to power its Colossus data center, prompting public backlash. In June, the NAACP sued xAI in Mississippi to shut down those turbines, arguing that citizens have the right to enforce the Clean Air Act. The Trump administration intervened on xAI’s behalf, contending that private individuals lack the authority to enforce the law. Despite the lawsuit, reports indicate that other AI giants—including Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Oracle—have largely ignored the criticism and continued investing in similar projects. Amazon’s Texas investment represents its first major foray into off-the-grid data centers, following a pattern of securing quick approvals for alternative power plants.

This wave of energy independence is reshaping the data center landscape. Community resistance has successfully blocked $130 billion in data center projects so far this year, but the momentum against gas-burning plants appears weaker. If the xAI fight ends in defeat, it could devastate the efforts of communities seeking more transparency and stricter environmental oversight. The outcome of this legal battle may well determine whether the public can influence the rapid expansion of fossil-fuel-powered AI infrastructure. For now, the allure of cheap, immediate power for artificial intelligence seems to be outweighing environmental and health concerns in corporate boardrooms.

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