Borderland Data Center Developments in Texas and New Mexico
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has introduced new policies for data centers, including a halt on new approvals and requirements for resource usage and grid connection, which the City of El Paso is questioning regarding Meta's local project. Meanwhile, New Mexico legislators are addressing strong community opposition to Oracle's Project Jupiter near Santa Teresa, focusing on environmental and economic concerns.
The Borderland region is experiencing new developments in data center policy and ongoing project impacts across both Texas and New Mexico. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has unveiled new statewide policy positions for data centers, focusing on resource usage, requirements to pay for state grid connections, and adherence to neighborhood standards including noise and community integration. Significantly, the governor announced a halt to any further data center approvals in Texas, pending an audit by ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission.
Governor Abbott, speaking in Socorro, clarified that while local cities, particularly El Paso, hold primary jurisdiction for permitting, the state will pass legislation to set guardrails. He also proposed eliminating monopoly municipal-owned electricity systems in cities like San Antonio and Austin to provide Texans with more retail electrical provider choices. Meta, which is constructing a data center in Northeast El Paso, has agreed to the state's new guidelines. However, the City of El Paso is seeking specific clarifications from Governor Abbott on how these directives will apply to Meta's project, including enforcement, compliance, and ensuring that infrastructure costs are borne by Meta, not ratepayers.
On the New Mexico side, state legislators held sessions in Las Cruces to hear constituent concerns regarding Oracle's multi-billion dollar "Project Jupiter" data center near the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Community members expressed fierce pushback, citing worries about resource depletion, corporate influence, and the actual number and longevity of promised jobs. Despite tech developers pitching economic benefits, residents argued the project would exploit local people and threaten the environment, prompting state senators to emphasize their commitment to acting on community feedback.