US Rep. Escobar calls on Meta to address data center impact in El Paso

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, has formally requested that Meta engage with El Paso residents to address concerns surrounding the company's new data center under construction in Northeast El Paso. In a letter sent on Wednesday, March 25, Rep. Escobar urged Meta to host public meetings to provide transparency on how the project will impact the community. Key issues raised by constituents and highlighted in Escobar's letter include potential increases in electricity costs, given the data center's high energy consumption and Meta's engagement with El Paso Electric (EPE) to expand capacity. Residents are also deeply concerned about the vast amounts of water the data center is expected to consume in a region where water is a scarce resource. Despite Meta's commitment to restoring 200% of its water consumption to local watersheds, specific details on how this will be achieved remain unclear. Furthermore, Escobar pointed out a significant environmental concern: Meta's apparent decision to power the data center with gas-powered turbines, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, despite prior commitments to renewable energy. Rep. Escobar concluded her letter by requesting timely public listening sessions and Meta's participation in a town hall meeting with her and local utility companies.