Escobar still concerned over Fort Bliss data center
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar says she remains concerned about the Fort Bliss data center’s size, location and potential effects on nearby homes in El Paso. Although the project has been reduced and relocated, it remains planned to use gas-generated power, while its cooling water would be treated through desalination at the Kay Bailey Hutchison plant.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar said the proposed data center at Fort Bliss remains a concern despite a reduction in its size and a change in the project site. She said the facility would still be too close to nearby homes and questioned its potential impacts on the surrounding community.
The project, being advanced by the U.S. Army and Carlyle Group, remains on track to use gas generation for power, which Escobar described as a serious additional concern. She identified the planned use of brackish water, sent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant for treatment, as one positive aspect. The Army says the facility is intended to accelerate artificial intelligence capabilities.