Google to power Texas data center on gas

Google is drawing criticism after reports revealed plans to potentially support a large-scale AI data center in Texas with a dedicated natural gas power plant raising concerns about the company’s long-standing climate commitments.

The project is tied to a partnership with Crusoe at the Goodnight data center campus in Texas. Crusoe has filed permits for a 933-megawatt gas-fired power plant designed to supply energy directly to the facility. The broader data center development is expected to cost nearly $30 billion, reflecting the massive infrastructure demands of next-generation AI systems.

According to estimates, the proposed plant could emit approximately 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, more annual emissions than the entire city of San Francisco. Unlike some of Google’s previous energy arrangements, including a recent gas-related deal in Illinois that incorporated mitigation strategies, the Goodnight project reportedly does not include carbon capture or offset mechanisms at this stage.

Google has confirmed its collaboration with Crusoe but emphasized that no formal agreement has been signed to purchase electricity from the gas facility. This leaves room for potential changes in how the site is ultimately powered, though the current direction has already sparked debate among climate advocates and industry observers.

For over a decade, Google has positioned itself at the forefront of corporate sustainability, pioneering initiatives such as 24/7 carbon-free energy and securing more than 22 gigawatts of renewable energy through power purchase agreements. Its climate strategy has often been cited as a benchmark for other tech companies. However, the rapid acceleration of AI particularly large-scale model training and cloud-based inference has significantly increased energy demand across the tech sector.

In this context, the Goodnight project highlights a growing tension: the pace of AI infrastructure expansion is beginning to outstrip the availability and scalability of clean energy solutions. While Google maintains that its long-term sustainability goals remain intact, projects like this could signal a pragmatic, if controversial, shift toward bridging energy gaps with fossil fuels in the short term.