Amazon has been building and operating data centers for nearly two decades. In that time, we’ve proven that we are not only good neighbors, but committed long-term partners in the communities where we operate and our employees live. As our planned project near Glen Rose moves ahead, we want to share what we’re building, how we intend to use water and power, and what the project will mean for the people who call Somervell County home. This isn’t about Amazon coming to Somervell County. It’s about Amazon and Somervell County building something together — and doing it the right way.
A new investment in Somervell County
We are planning a state-of-the-art data center campus in an unincorporated area of Somervell County, near Glen Rose. The campus sits on land owned by Vistra Corp., adjacent to the existing Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant.
This investment is expected to support at least 550 full-time positions, with wages well above the county average. The construction process will generate thousands of additional jobs and expanded opportunities for local contractors and small businesses. As with any project of this scale, development will occur in stages. Site preparation is underway, and we are committed to providing transparency and updates to the community as the project progresses.
Where our water comes from — and where it doesn't
In this region, our facilities use outside air for cooling roughly 84% of the year, which means no water is needed for cooling during those hours. Only during the hottest hours — about 16% of the time — do we deploy water-based cooling. This approach also reduces our electricity demand by 25–35% precisely when the grid faces peak summer loads, helping balance both water and power needs.
When we do use water, it comes exclusively from the reservoir at Comanche Creek, a dedicated industrial cooling reservoir that serves the adjacent Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant. Because of its salinity, this water is not suitable as a drinking source. We draw it under existing surface water rights owned by Vistra and leased to Amazon — not from local groundwater or the community's drinking water supply.
No new water rights will be sought or obtained, and our projected water use is under 2% of the existing water rights Vistra holds for the location. For everyday needs like restrooms, domestic water will be provided by the Somervell County Water District, and we've coordinated closely with the district to ensure our use does not affect residents' access.
Giving more water back to the Brazos Basin
Amazon is committed to being water positive by 2030, meaning we'll return more water to communities than we use in our operations. Globally in 2025, we returned three gallons for every four we used, and we've announced more than 70 water projects expected to return over 11 billion gallons annually once fully implemented.
We're investing approximately $3.75 million in a water-efficiency project with Arable to help farmers across the Brazos River Basin near Glen Rose reduce groundwater withdrawals. The project deploys AWS-hosted irrigation technology that tells farmers exactly when their crops need water, avoiding unnecessary irrigation and easing pressure on shared water resources.
Once fully implemented, it's expected to replenish more than 330 million gallons of water per year. At the campus itself, spent cooling water will be returned for treatment and reuse on-site, further minimizing our draw from the reservoir.
Clean power from the plant next door
One of the things that makes this project distinctive is how it will be powered. At this site, electricity is delivered from the adjacent Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant through dedicated transmission lines to an on-site substation. Amazon will be a direct off-taker from the plant, paying the full cost of the energy that supports our operations and providing a stable financial backstop for the plant's continued operation — reliable, carbon-free power generated right next door.
We work closely with energy providers in Texas to pay the full costs of powering our operations, so those costs are not passed on to other customers. Our facility connects to the high-voltage transmission system, not to the local distribution lines that serve homes and businesses in your neighborhood, so our power needs will not affect the reliability of electric service for other utility customers.
More broadly, we've enabled 40 carbon-free energy projects totaling nearly 10 GW of energy supply in Texas, enough to power roughly three million U.S. homes, and we continue to pursue both dispatchable and renewable solutions to meet our needs.
Backup power, kept in reserve
Like all data centers, our facilities include backup generators to ensure uninterrupted service for the critical customers who depend on our infrastructure. These generators are an essential safety feature, not a primary power source, and they run very infrequently — mostly for brief mid-day tests to confirm they're ready when needed.
We take air quality seriously. Our backup generators use advanced emissions-control technology that significantly reduces nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter, and we conduct field testing as required by our environmental permits to verify they achieve those reductions.
We are also fully committed to complying with Senate Bill 6 and all Texas grid reliability standards. During grid emergencies, we are required by law to curtail our load as directed — an additional protection for Texas ratepayers and our commitment to helping ensure a reliable grid for everyone.
Investing in Communities
One of the things we're most proud of is how we invest in the communities where we operate, working side-by-side with local partners to make a positive difference, including:
- Through our Built Together initiative — a commitment of more than $1 billion over five years to communities hosting Amazon data centers — we'll support education and workforce pathways and look forward to sharing more information soon.
- We've partnered with Glen Rose Independent School District on classroom-focused STEM engagement and workshops for students and teachers.
- Amazon and Vistra are jointly supporting the Texas Amphitheater Performing Arts Foundation, with Amazon contributing $15,000 as part of a $25,000 Platinum-level sponsorship.
- Amazon plans a community meet-and-greet with schools, nonprofits and government entities and the launch of a $100,000–$150,000 Community Fund, along with additional STEM resources and local sponsorships in 2027.
We look forward to listening, engaging, and growing alongside Somervell County for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the data center impact my electricity rates?
Amazon works closely with energy providers in Texas to pay the full costs of powering our operations so those costs are not passed to other customers. At this site, power is delivered from the adjacent Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Plant via new dedicated transmission lines to an on-site substation. Amazon will be a direct off-taker from the plant, paying for the full cost of energy to support our operations and providing a stable financial backstop for the plant's continued operation.
What is the source of the water used for cooling?
The campus's cooling water is sourced from existing surface water rights owned by Vistra Corp. and leased to Amazon from the reservoir at Comanche Creek — a dedicated industrial cooling reservoir that, due to its salinity, is not suitable for use as a drinking water source.
Will residents’ access to water be impacted?
The facilities will draw cooling water exclusively from the reservoir at Comanche Creek, which is not part of public works infrastructure, using existing water rights. No new water rights will be sought or obtained at this time. Projected average annual water use is under 2% of the existing water rights held by Vistra for the location. This is well within the campus's contracted peak allocation, which represents less than 5% of those same rights.
How is Amazon contributing to energy needs in Texas?
Amazon works closely with energy providers in Texas to pay the full costs of powering our operations so those costs are not passed to other customers. These investments often extend beyond our immediate needs and help modernize the broader grid.
We have enabled 40 carbon-free energy projects, totaling nearly 10 GW in energy supply in Texas — enough to power three million U.S. homes — and we continue pursuing both dispatchable and renewable solutions.
Will the data center be loud for nearby homes or businesses?
Amazon invests in advanced technology and engineering for industry-leading sound management across our data centers that demonstrates our commitment to being a responsible community partner. As part of those investments, we have implemented a comprehensive Acoustic Program that integrates sophisticated sound mitigation strategies throughout the entire facility lifecycle, including initial site planning, building-specific design considerations, and ongoing operational oversight. Our mitigation approach strives to reduce both low-frequency and tonal sound characteristics to ensure comprehensive sound quality management. Our noise mitigation measures include sound-dampening building materials and insulation, strategic placement of equipment, visual screening, and acoustic enclosures and mufflers where needed.
Are backup generators tested regularly, and how loud are those tests?
Our generators run very infrequently, mostly for brief mid-day tests to ensure they are ready and reliable when needed during rare emergencies. This minimal operation reflects our commitment to reducing air emissions while maintaining the reliability our customers depend on.