How Amazon is preparing for the energy needs of the future

Recent Updates May 8, 2026 8:00 AM Share Amazon invests in new geothermal and solar projects to power future Nevada data centers Zanskar currently operates the most productive pumped geothermal well in the United States at its Lightning Dock Geothermal power plant in New Mexico.

Amazon is investing in new carbon-free energy projects in Nevada to help power its future data center operations in the Reno area.

The projects are planned to bring 700 megawatts (MW) of new carbon-free energy capacity onto the grid—enough to power the equivalent of more than 222,000 homes in the United States—and includes a combination of new geothermal power and solar-plus-battery-storage.

As part of this project, Amazon is working with local utility NV Energy to add 100 MWs of geothermal power from Zanskar, and 600 MW of solar plus 600 MW of battery storage from Primergy to the power grid.

Amazon covers all costs associated with powering its data centers, including any new energy infrastructure and generation, ensuring those costs are not passed on to residents and businesses in the region. Geothermal is a particularly exciting addition to Amazon’s carbon-free energy portfolio powering our data centers.

Unlike other renewable sources that fluctuate with weather or time of day, geothermal harnesses the Earth's constant internal heat to generate power around the clock. This is Amazon’s first data center powered in part by dedicated geothermal power, and Amazon sees significant potential for it as a scalable source of firm carbon-free energy.

The 600 MW of solar plus 600 MW of battery storage is equally important. Battery storage brings much needed capacity to the Nevada grid, and allows for the capture of solar energy during peak production and dispatch it when it's needed most.

This extends the value of solar generation well beyond daylight hours—exactly the kind of around-the-clock reliability data centers require. These projects add to Amazon's carbon-free energy portfolio of more than 700 projects totaling over 40 gigawatts worldwide—enough to power more than 12 million U. S. homes.

These investments don't just power Amazon’s operations—they add new sources of carbon-free energy to the grid that everyone relies on, helping keep electricity costs stable and affordable for families and businesses.

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