El Paso’s plan to build natural gas power plant for massive data center kicks up opposition
News ClipThe Texas Tribune·El Paso, El Paso County, TX·1/26/2026
El Paso officials celebrated the groundbreaking of a $1.5 billion data center for Meta in 2025. However, it was later revealed that El Paso Electric plans to build a 366-megawatt natural gas plant to power the data center, rather than using renewable energy as initially suggested. This has sparked opposition from local advocacy groups like the Sembrando Esperanza Coalition, who are concerned about the impact on electricity rates, air pollution, and the transition to renewable energy in the region. Additionally, El Paso is already facing challenges with water scarcity, and other data center projects in the area, such as Project Jupiter and a facility by Wiwynn Corp., will also be powered by natural gas.
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Meta
Gov: El Paso City, Sembrando Esperanza Coalition
El Paso plans to build a natural gas power plant to power a massive $1.5 billion data center for Meta (formerly Facebook), despite the city's renewable energy goals. The plan has faced opposition from local advocates who argue it will increase pollution, utility rates, and undermine efforts to transition to clean energy. El Paso Electric says the natural gas plant is the "fastest available option" to meet the data center's power needs, while Meta claims the data center will be powered by 100% renewable energy. The city has intervened in the utility's application to the state regulator to voice concerns about the environmental and economic impacts of the gas plant.