Proposed Fort Bliss data center could use more power than all of El Paso

The U.S. Army is proposing a colossal 3-gigawatt data center complex at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, which by 2029 could consume more electricity than El Paso Electric's total generation capacity for its 460,000 customers. This project is a key component of a broader Department of Defense initiative, originating from the Trump administration, to rapidly enhance artificial intelligence capabilities for military operations. David Fitzgerald, deputy undersecretary of the Army, stated an initial operating capacity of 100 megawatts by next year, necessitating a swift start to construction to meet a late 2027 operational goal. The Carlyle Group, an investment firm, has been conditionally selected to finance, build, and operate the facility. This complex would add to the region's growing data center footprint, alongside Meta's facility and the Oracle/OpenAI Project Jupiter, potentially establishing the Borderland as a major AI infrastructure hub. However, the proposal faces numerous unanswered questions, particularly concerning its environmental impact. Army officials cite natural gas turbines as the most likely power source, which could lead to significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. The facility's extensive water demands from the Hueco Bolson aquifer also raise concerns, despite the Army's aim for a "water neutral" operation, the specifics of which remain undisclosed. El Paso Water and El Paso Electric have limited details, uncertain if the data center will connect to their grids. Army Assistant Secretary Jeff Waksman confirmed environmental reviews are pending, and officials emphasize the project's strategic military importance while assuring no impact on local utility bills.