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Amazon data center communities: Here’s what’s happening near data centers across the US
Get the latest updates on how Amazon supports small businesses, creates jobs, sets up sustainability initiatives, and develops educational programs near AWS data centers.
Written by Amazon Staff
Recent Updates
September 25, 2026 11:03 AM
How Amazon is protecting energy affordability in Indiana
Data centers house the computers that make the modern internet possible. As more Americans rely on data centers to power their daily lives, more energy is needed to run them.
In Indiana, Amazon has data centers in two utility service areas: Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) in Northwestern Indiana and Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) in the Northeast and East Central regions. In both cases, we entered long-term agreements that ensure our energy costs are not passed on to our neighbors.
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M)
Amazon reached an agreement with I&M that provides binding, long-term financial commitments so that our costs are not passed on to existing customers.
Amazon covers 100% of the electricity costs for our data centers and guarantees I&M payment for at least 80% of our projected demand, whether we use that capacity or not. If Amazon uses less capacity than expected, we absorb the cost—not ratepayers.
Amazon is also funding $2.5 million in energy assistance and efficiency programs for low-income I&M customers through the Indiana Community Action Association, helping lower bills for families struggling to make ends meet.
I&M announced a 3.6% reduction in residential utility bills in May, followed by an additional 5% reduction in August—driven in part by revenue from large users like data centers.
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO)
Amazon and NIPSCO developed a first-of-its-kind framework to add up to 3 gigawatts of new capacity to the Indiana power grid without increasing costs for other ratepayers. Amazon pays fees to use existing power lines and to cover the costs of any system upgrades needed to power our data centers. The agreement is estimated to generate $1.25 billion in savings for NIPSCO customers over the next 15 years.
What this means for Hoosiers
At Amazon, we believe data center growth should strengthen the grid, help lower electricity costs, and make power more reliable. That's our commitment to the communities where we operate.
September 23, 2026 9:49 AM
Amazon employees pack 450 meal kits, make a home accessible in North Carolina
Forty-five Amazon employees volunteered nearly 170 hours across three projects during the United Way of Richmond County's annual Days of Caring.
Amazon employees smile on a newly rebuilt deck for a resident during the United Way of Richmond County's annual Days of Caring.
Amazon is building a new data center campus in Richmond County, North Carolina, but the team didn't wait for operations to begin to start getting involved. From September 16–18, 45 employees fanned out across the county for the United Way of Richmond County's annual Days of Caring, volunteering on three projects and logging nearly 170 hours combined.
Feeding kids on the weekends
The team spent the morning with Backpack Pals, assembling more than 450 weekend meal kits for children across Richmond County schools. The kits make sure students have something to eat when the cafeteria isn't an option. Many of our employees are parents, so this project was personal.
Making Ms. Vickie's home accessible again
Part of the team joined Habitat for Humanity of the NC Sandhills for a multiday volunteer effort to demolish and rebuild three decks for Ms. Vickie, a local resident who could no longer safely get in and out of her home. Our team was proud to be part of the crew that made her home accessible again.
Getting the food pantry ready
The rest of the team deep-cleaned and restocked Our Daily Bread Food Ministry's food pantry from floor to ceiling—organizing shelves, rotating inventory, and preparing it to serve the families who depend on it most.
What's ahead
This was the first volunteer day for the team, but it won't be the last. They're already planning more community projects before the end of the year.
"We know actions matter more than words. 70% of our team showed up on a single Friday to pack meal kits for kids, rebuild a deck, and restock a food pantry—and we're just getting started. We want to be the kind of neighbor who's there when it counts," said Kelly Felix, data center cluster operations leader for North Carolina.
September 17, 2026 12:47 PM
Nearly 500 data center employees roll up their sleeves to clean up Umatilla
Nearly 500 Amazon data center employees from across Eastern Oregon joined forces with the City of Umatilla and the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce to clean up a 1.9-mile corridor burdened by years of illegal dumping and littering. In just 90 minutes, volunteers collected nearly 3 tons of trash and helped restore a road bordering the Umatilla River.
Nearly 500 Amazon employees from across Eastern Oregon volunteered to collect nearly 3 tons of trash along a 1.9-mile stretch of Old River Road, the future home of the Umatilla River Trail.
The Old River Road corridor is the future home of the Umatilla River Trail, a project backed by a $5.7 million Oregon Department of Transportation Oregon Community Paths grant. When completed, the trail will connect the City of Umatilla to northern Hermiston, creating a multi-use path along the river for residents and visitors. Before construction can begin in late 2027, the corridor needed to be cleared of years of accumulated debris — a task that required a mass volunteer effort.
Amazon data centers employ more than 2,500 people across Eastern Oregon, and this cleanup marks roughly 3,000 volunteer hours these teams have contributed to the community in 2026 alone.
Amazon employees from across Eastern Oregon gathered at the Sage Center alongside members of the Boardman Fire Department to celebrate the day's volunteer cleanup and connect across sites.
The day wrapped up at the Sage Center, where Amazon hosted a regional update for employees from across Eastern Oregon. Teams were joined by members of the Boardman Fire Department as hundreds came together to celebrate the day's work and connect across sites.
September 11, 2026 3:25 PM
How we're building responsibly in Wharton County, Texas
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 collaborators in the communities where we operate and our employees live. As this project in Wharton County progresses, we want to share what we are planning, how we intend to use water and power, and what the project will mean for people who live nearby.
What we're building
We are currently planning a data center campus outside of Boling, Texas, about 10 miles southeast of Wharton. The project will support at least 300 full-time positions, with 150 full-time roles by mid-2027, 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.
We see long-term potential here and are evaluating options for future investment, but today only have plans for 13 buildings.
As with any project of this scale, development will occur in stages. Site preparation is already underway, and we are committed to providing transparency and updates to the community as the project progresses. Ultimately, each location is driven by campus size and may evolve over time.
Clear answers on water
The 13 buildings planned on the Wharton County campus will not use water for cooling. No groundwater will be used for data center cooling at this site. As we evaluate future investment or expansion at this campus, we are working directly with the regional and local water authority to develop responsible, nonpotable water solutions for any potential cooling needs. This is part of our standard process for finding the most efficient method for operating our data centers, with a key tenet of ensuring that our projects do not negatively impact water needs for the surrounding community.
Besides cooling, data centers use water for everyday needs like bathrooms, cleaning, and fire suppression systems. For our current plans, potable use is limited to approximately 16,000 gallons per day, equivalent to roughly 54 households or a typical office building with a similar number of employees.
Replenishing local water resources
Amazon is committed to being water-positive globally by 2030, meaning we'll return more water to communities than we use in our data center operations—and we're already 75% of the way there.
Amazon is actively working with local organizations to develop water-positive programs, including in Wharton County, that will return more water than we use to the local watershed.
As part of this project, Amazon is funding a water replenishment project in Wharton County that helps local farmers adopt Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation practices—reducing flood-based irrigation demand by 25% or more without reducing crop yields—in the lower Colorado River watershed, where both area farmers and other users draw from the same surface water source. This effort is expected to replenish more than 225 million gallons of water per year over a 10-year period.
Powering our operations responsibly and supporting the Texas electric grid
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 do not plan to build or operate a gas plant at our Wharton County site. We are actively working with energy companies to explore power supply options in ERCOT, delivered by existing transmission infrastructure and substations we are funding on-site. We remain committed to responsible energy procurement, having invested in more than 10 GW (gigawatts) of energy supply in Texas—enough to power roughly 8 million U.S. homes—and we continue pursuing both dispatchable and renewable solutions to meet our needs.
Backup generation and grid reliability
We rely on the utility grid to power our data centers. To ensure uninterrupted service for the critical customers who depend on our infrastructure—including hospitals, schools, and emergency services—our data centers include backup generators in case of rare power disruptions. These generators are an essential safety feature, not a primary power source, and they run very infrequently—mostly for brief mid-day tests to ensure they are ready and reliable when needed.
We take air quality seriously. Our backup generators use Tier 4 compliant emissions control technology—the most stringent EPA standard for diesel engines—which significantly reduces nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter. These controls deliver the same environmental performance as Tier 4 certified engines, and we conduct comprehensive field testing as required by our environmental permits to verify they achieve the required emission reductions.
During grid emergencies, we actively participate in grid management protocols and will curtail our load or activate backup power—just like other large industrial users. We are also fully committed to complying with all Texas grid reliability standards, including Senate Bill 6.
Designing and building responsibly—our permitting and environmental review process
Building a data center campus of this scale requires extensive planning, design, and regulatory review—and we approach every phase with a commitment to doing it right.
Before any work began at the Wharton County site, we completed a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which found no contamination or recognized environmental conditions. The site has been agricultural pastureland and forestland since at least the 1940s. We also commissioned a thorough natural resources assessment by working with environmental consultants to evaluate the property's waterways, wetlands, and wildlife.
Our permitting and compliance work spans multiple areas:
Air quality: We work with state environmental agencies to secure and comply with all applicable air permits for our operations, including emissions from backup generators. We voluntarily invest in advanced emissions control technology that reduces pollutants well beyond minimum regulatory requirements.
Water and waterways: The campus layout achieves 100% avoidance of the jurisdictional stream—Gardner Slough—and its associated wetlands, with all buffer zones exceeding regulatory minimums. We are coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the jurisdictional determination process for the property. We comply with all applicable water discharge permits and monitor water quality to meet or exceed regulatory standards.
Stormwater management: We build stormwater management infrastructure, such as retention ponds and drainage systems, to control runoff and protect local waterways and groundwater.
Wildlife and habitat: A qualified biological consultant completed a habitat assessment across the full property. No federally listed threatened or endangered species were observed on the development footprint. Migratory bird breeding areas were identified and flagged so construction crews knew where active or potential nesting habitat existed before any clearing began.
Building and site design: Throughout design and construction, we work with acoustic engineers to keep noise levels low and design our facilities to meet federal guidance for the health and welfare of surrounding communities. We implement noise mitigation measures including sound-dampening building materials, strategic placement of cooling equipment, visual screening, and acoustical enclosures for generators.
Spill prevention and emergency response: Every facility maintains a Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plan with regular training, monthly inspections, and established notification and cleanup protocols that meet all federal and state requirements.
We comply with all environmental regulations—including those related to water quality, air emissions, stormwater management, noise levels, and waste disposal—and work closely with environmental agencies throughout every phase of our projects to ensure we meet and often exceed all applicable standards.
Jobs, tax revenue, and community investment
This project will support at least 300 full-time positions—with 150 by mid-2027—at wages well above the county average. During construction and operations, the campus will employ plumbers, pipe fitters, electricians, project engineers, fiber technicians, line workers, and data center technicians. We're working with local organizations on workforce development programs to prepare residents for these roles.
We've established the Wharton County Community Fund with an initial $200,000 commitment for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming, youth recreation, veterans programs, housing, and other local priorities. We're also launching a dedicated project website with FAQs and a way for community members to share questions and feedback.
The project is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue, providing sustainable funding for local schools, public safety, and infrastructure.
In summary, Amazon is committed to building responsibly in Wharton County—creating good jobs, generating sustainable tax revenue, and investing in the community while being thoughtful stewards of local water and energy resources.
We look forward to sharing updates as the project progresses.
FAQs
Will the data center be loud for nearby homes or businesses?
We work hard to ensure our data centers operate as quietly as possible in a way that respects our neighbors and the surrounding community. In addition to meeting all local noise regulations, we strive to design our facilities to federal guidance for the health and welfare of surrounding communities, which often are lower than the regulatory standards. We implement several noise mitigation measures including:
- Sound-dampening building materials and insulation
- Strategic placement of cooling equipment
- Visual screening where needed
- Generators that utilize acoustical enclosures and mufflers
Throughout design and construction, we work with acoustic engineers to keep noise levels low and ensure the facility fits comfortably within the surrounding community.
How is Amazon investing in Wharton County?
Amazon is committed to being a good neighbor throughout the construction process. We listen and engage with local officials and community members to address concerns proactively. We aim to minimize disruption while still being able to deliver meaningful benefits including new construction and long-term technology jobs, opportunities for local contractors and small businesses, and sustainable tax revenue that supports schools, public safety, and community services.
This project is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in new tax revenue, providing sustainable funding for essential services, local schools, and infrastructure. We have also started the Wharton County Community Fund, with an initial commitment of $200,000 that will be used for STEM programming, youth recreation, veterans programs, housing, and other hyperlocal programs.
Will this impact the reliability of the grid?
We understand concerns about grid reliability, and we want to clarify how our data center operates within the electrical system. Our data centers connect to the high-voltage transmission system, not the local distribution lines that power homes and businesses in your neighborhood. Our facility uses the transmission system, which operates at much higher voltages and is completely separate from the infrastructure serving the community. Our power needs will not impact local voltage levels or increase the risk of brownouts in your area.
We are also fully committed to complying with all Texas grid reliability standards, including Senate Bill 6.
We actively participate in grid management protocols and will curtail our load or activate backup power during grid emergencies—just like other large industrial users.
Will this project 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.
The electricity investments we make often extend beyond our immediate needs and help modernize the broader grid. We have invested in enough energy supply in Texas to power roughly 8 million U.S. homes, and we continue pursuing both dispatchable and renewable solutions to meet our needs.
In fact, a recent national analysis by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and The Brattle Group found that states with growing electricity demand—including from sectors like manufacturing and data centers—saw lower retail electricity prices. Adding new customers spreads fixed grid costs across more users, which helps reduce pressure on rates.
How much water will this project use?
The 13 buildings planned on the Wharton County campus will not use water for cooling. No groundwater will be used for data center cooling at this site. Besides cooling, data centers use water for everyday needs like bathrooms, cleaning, and fire suppression systems. For our current plans, potable use is limited to approximately 16,000 gallons per day, equivalent to roughly 54 households or a typical office building with a similar number of employees.
Amazon is also funding a water replenishment project in Wharton County that helps local farmers adopt Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation practices—reducing flood-based irrigation demand by 25% or more without reducing crop yields—in the lower Colorado River watershed, where both area farmers and other users draw from the same surface water source. This effort is expected to replenish more than 225 million gallons of water per year over a 10-year period.
September 10, 2026 1:19 PM
Amazon is turning Spotsylvania's sewage water into a resource
When you flush a toilet, take a shower, or run a load of laundry, that water flows into the sewage system. In Spotsylvania County, it gets treated and discharged into the Rappahannock River. You may not think about it again.
Amazon and Spotsylvania County leaders celebrate the start of construction on a new water reuse system that will recycle treated wastewater to cool Amazon's data centers.
Amazon did. A new $480 million water project, built in partnership between Amazon and Spotsylvania County, will upgrade the Massaponax Wastewater Treatment Plant and add more than 20 miles of new pipeline to turn that wastewater into a resource. The system will produce the second-largest water reuse capacity in Virginia.
What this project does
The project conserves drinking water by directing reclaimed water to industrial customers. Preserving Spotsylvania's potable supply for residents and other business users.
How it benefits the community
Attendee signs a "purple pipe" to commemorate the project's launch. Purple pipes are used across the utilities industry to carry recycled wastewater, and this system will repurpose the county's treated wastewater to cool Amazon's data centers.
The county will own the system and can sell reclaimed water to other businesses, creating a new revenue stream. And residents won't see any of this on their water bills, because they aren't paying for it. Use of the system is also seasonal—typically late spring to early fall. During cooler months, the full capacity is available for other uses or can be returned to the river as it does today.
Amazon's commitment
Because of how we design our facilities, we cool servers with outside air about 96 percent of the year in Spotsylvania. Water enters the picture only during the hottest hours of the hottest days, roughly 4 percent of the time when outside air alone can't do the job. We use outside air because it balances water and energy usage. If we used traditional air conditioning instead, we would draw 25-35% more power from the grid.
We were the first data center operator in Virginia to cool with reclaimed water. Globally, we are seven times more water-efficient than the average data center in the industry.
As demand for cloud computing continues to grow, so does our commitment to doing more with less. In Spotsylvania, that means a county-owned system that turns waste into a resource, protects drinking water supplies, and creates lasting economic value for the community.
September 10, 2026 11:43 AM
Amazon's Girls' Tech Day inspires Gilroy’s next generation
Sixth grade is a turning point at Gilroy Unified School District. It's the first time students choose their own electives, and those choices can shape the direction of their academic journey. Amazon's Girls' Tech Day is designed to inspire young girls to explore opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) by giving them positive, hands-on experiences with these fields before they make those decisions.
On a sunny day in August, nearly 150 rising sixth-grade girls came together at Solorsano Middle School in Gilroy, California, for the third annual Girls' Tech Day.
"We know that middle school is when girls' interest in math and science begins to wane, as their academic confidence might decrease," said Jennifer Evans, Gilroy Unified School District STEAM coordinator and former fifth grade teacher. "We want to support all our students in STEAM pursuits, and this event was the perfect introduction to the future career possibilities for attendees."
Middle schoolers break for snacks on Amazon's Girls' Tech Day
Amazon is proud to support Gilroy Unified School District with this event and looks forward to continuing to grow Girls' Tech Day in the years ahead.
August 18, 2026 4:31 PM
