Will Meta's new Texas commitments apply in El Paso?
State Senator César Blanco has written to Meta, seeking clarification on whether the company's new commitments to follow statewide data center guidelines will apply to its $10 billion El Paso project. The senator is particularly interested in how infrastructure costs, water usage, and community impacts will be handled, especially since the El Paso facility is outside the ERCOT power grid.
State Senator César Blanco has written to Meta seeking clarification on whether the company's new commitments to follow Governor Greg Abbott's statewide data center guidelines will extend to its over $10 billion project in El Paso. The El Paso facility is notably located outside of Texas's ERCOT electric grid, distinguishing it from Meta's data centers in Fort Worth and Temple.
In his letter, Senator Blanco queried Meta on several key issues. He asked if the company would cover infrastructure costs to avoid burdening El Paso ratepayers, detail the project's anticipated water usage and conservation technologies, and clarify the implications of the new guidelines for existing tax incentives and abatements tied to the project. Additionally, Blanco sought projections for potential impacts on neighboring communities, including noise, lighting, traffic, and emergency response, and inquired if Meta would voluntarily submit the El Paso project to the same level of disclosure and review required for projects within the ERCOT grid, even if not technically mandated. A Meta spokesperson confirmed receipt of the inquiry and stated they would respond once they hear back from the company.