Amazon is reportedly investing in a large natural gas power plant in Texas to power a massive AI data center, a facility that could become the most polluting power plant in the United States.

Amazon is investing in a large-scale natural gas power plant as part of a massive data center project in Pecos County, Texas, a facility that could become the single largest source of climate pollution in the United States, the company confirmed.

Amazon defends move as cost-neutral for Texas families

An Amazon spokeswoman said in a statement to the New York Times that the data center would be "powered by new on-site generation that won't raise electricity costs for Texas families." According to regulatory records cited by the newspaper, the new gas-burning plant, if built to specifications, would be permitted to release 33 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, more than any other power plant in the country.

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