El Paso residents, organizations seek to end Meta data center contract at City Council meeting
El Paso City Council is holding a public comment session to discuss the Meta data center contract, with some residents and organizations seeking its termination. Concerns include environmental impact, high water and electricity consumption, and air/light pollution. Mayor Renard Johnson has cautioned against termination due to financial implications and Meta's substantial investment.
The El Paso City Council is holding a public comment session today to address concerns about the Meta data center and to review the possibility of terminating its contract with the city. This follows an item introduced last week by Representatives Lily Limn and Josh Acevedo, which directs the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate and terminate the contract.
Mayor Renard Johnson has expressed doubts about the feasibility of terminating the contract, citing potential financial impacts on the city and Meta's significant $1.5 billion investment in the project. He emphasized the importance of upholding agreements to maintain a positive signal for economic development.
However, local organizations, including the Amanecer People's Project, remain hopeful that the contract can be stopped. They argue that the data center poses a risk of "irreparable damage to El Paso's natural resources." Their major concerns include air and light pollution, the facility's average consumption of 1.5 million gallons of water daily, and the operation of 813 modular gas generators 24/7, which they describe as a "recipe for a disaster" that will also raise electricity costs for ratepayers. The City Council meeting begins at 9 AM, with public comment scheduled to start at 10 AM.