Amazon commits to Ohio gas plant set to open 2028

Amazon has agreed to buy all the power from a new gas-fired power plant in Ohio that could become the single largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. once it opens in 2028. The project, called the Guernsey Power Station, will run around the clock to fuel Amazon’s growing empire of data centers, which are needed to train and run AI models. The deal signals Amazon’s aggressive push to lock in long-term energy contracts to keep pace with rivals like Microsoft and Google in the AI boom.

The Ohio plant highlights a growing conflict. While tech giants promise to run on 100% renewable energy, many are still turning to fossil fuels to meet soaring electricity demand from AI. Amazon has pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, but its rapid expansion—including plans for 10 new data centers in Ohio alone—means it needs massive, reliable power now. Natural gas plants like Guernsey are often built faster than renewables and can provide steady power, even when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining.

The Guernsey plant is expected to emit over 5 million tons of CO2 per year—more than the entire carbon footprint of some small countries. Local activists and climate groups have already raised alarms, arguing that Amazon is locking in decades of fossil fuel use just as the world needs to slash emissions. Amazon says it’s investing in renewable energy projects elsewhere to offset the emissions, but critics argue that offsets won’t cancel out the new plant’s pollution. The company also claims it’s committed to long-term clean energy solutions, though critics say these promises come too late for communities near the plant.

What happens next could set a precedent. If Amazon proceeds with the Guernsey deal, other tech companies may feel pressured to follow, locking in more gas plants to power their AI ambitions. Regulators in Ohio are still reviewing the project, and opponents plan to push back hard. Meanwhile, Amazon’s rivals are racing to secure their own clean energy deals—some, like Microsoft, are even exploring nuclear power. The Guernsey plant is just one piece of a much bigger fight over whether AI’s explosive growth will be powered by fossil fuels or a true clean energy transition.