El Paso challenges power plant proposed for Meta campus
The City of El Paso is actively opposing a natural gas power plant proposed by El Paso Electric intended to power a Meta data center in Northeast El Paso. City officials are participating in a hearing, citing concerns about protecting local ratepayers from potential cost increases. A decision from the Public Utility Commission is expected in December.
El Paso, Texas, is engaged in an ongoing battle against El Paso Electric's (EPE) proposal to construct the McCloud Generation facility, a natural gas power plant intended to primarily serve a Meta data center in Northeast El Paso. City Attorney Karla Nieman emphasized that the city's primary concern is protecting El Paso ratepayers from potential cost burdens associated with serving a single large customer like Meta. City officials are slated to present evidence and testimony at a hearing before the State Office of Administrative Hearings, which commenced on July 8. This hearing will address EPE's application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for the proposed plant.
Following the hearing, an administrative law judge is expected to issue a Proposal for Decision in October. The Public Utility Commission is then scheduled to consider and vote on EPE's application in December. The city's stance remains firm in seeking meaningful protections for existing utility customers. The article also references a previous instance where the El Paso City Council rejected a plan to cancel the broader Meta data center deal.