Podcast: How will El Paso Electric power Meta’s $10 billion El Paso data center?

The podcast from El Paso Matters details the significant progress of Meta's $10 billion data center campus in Northeast El Paso, Texas. Reporter Diego Mendoza-Moyers and editor Pablo Villa explain that El Paso Electric is rapidly constructing a $500 million, 366-megawatt natural gas power plant, utilizing over 800 small generators from Enchanted Rock, to exclusively power the facility by next year. This plan marks a shift from earlier expectations of solar energy, sparking considerable public backlash. Citizens have expressed strong opposition at City Council meetings, citing concerns about increased air pollution, high water consumption, and potential surges in electricity bills. Despite these objections, Meta has already commenced construction, poured foundations, and has 1,500 workers on-site. The city and county initially granted tax breaks to Meta in December 2023, and the company has since amplified its investment from $1.5 billion to $10 billion, anticipating 300 full-time hires. Although full approval from the Public Utility Commission for the power plant is pending, the overall data center project is considered a certainty.