Fort Bliss hosting community meeting on potential data center on base

Fort Bliss recently hosted a community meeting to solicit feedback on a proposed data center to be built on the military base. The event saw a packed room of nearly 100 residents from the Borderland area, primarily El Paso, Texas, who voiced strong concerns regarding the project's potential strain on local resources, particularly water supply in the desert region. Residents like Alex and Lilian explicitly stated their opposition, questioning how the Army plans to prevent wasting essential resources when "our drinking water is gone, it's gone." Concerns were also raised about the overall environmental impacts on the city, even with the center located on base. Conversely, a former Navy pilot supported the project, citing national security needs after interviewing 83 young veterans who were not against it. Prior to the meeting, Army officials, including Deputy Undersecretary of the Army David Fitzgerald, indicated that the center is intended to help them maintain their ability to keep data servers safe. Fitzgerald clarified that no definitive agreement is in place, and discussions are ongoing regarding utilities and water allotments to ensure the burden does not fall on taxpayers. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson and other city representatives also met with the Army, emphasizing the need for transparent collaboration with the community and assurances that the data center would not negatively impact the rest of the city. Fitzgerald expressed hopes that this meeting would be the first in a series of community engagements to address these complex issues.