Texas Approves Massive Data Center with 23.5M Tons of Emissions

0:00The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has approved air permits for the world's largest data center campus near Amarillo. This massive Matador project spans nearly 6,000 acres and plans an 11 gigawatt private grid. The approval allows Fermi America to move ahead, despite plans for 23.5 million tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions, marking the second largest clean air permit in the country. Local residents have voiced strong opposition from the start, raising fears over air quality and long-term health risks in their community. Over 300 public comments urge the agency to reject the permit, but officials dismiss those concerns, drawing criticism for prioritizing, development over environmental protection. As the project advances to its final stages, many in Amarillo feel unheard, highlighting ongoing tensions between growth and community well-being. That's the story for today. El Paso News Today, driven by AI. I'm Corey with The Story.