Amazon has reportedly confirmed it is building an 8,000-acre “GW Ranch” AI data center campus in Pecos County, Texas, backed by a dedicated 7.65GW natural-gas power plant.
The GW Ranch site will reportedly combine a 35-turbine, 7.65GW gas plant with 1.8GW of battery storage and 750MW of solar as a standalone “behind-the-meter” energy platform, initially operating independently of the Texas grid (ERCOT), it is reported.
First power is reportedly targeted for the first quarter of 2027, with 1GW online by 2028 and more than 5GW online by 2031.
The project is reportedly regarded as potentially becoming the largest gas-fired power plant in US history once completed, and is introduced as a case of large-scale self-generation built to meet the surging power demand of AI data centers.
This is viewed as a case that could accelerate a broader trend of big tech companies directly building large-scale gas power plants to secure data center power. However, the project has reportedly also drawn criticism from environmental groups over estimated carbon emissions of up to 33 million tonnes per year.
The timing of actual construction start and first power delivery, along with progress on environmental permitting, are worth watching.