El Paso City Council voices frustration about data centers, sends letter to Gov. Abbott
El Paso City Council unanimously voted to send a letter to Governor Greg Abbott, expressing frustration and seeking clarity on his temporary pause on new data center construction. The concern stems from El Paso's unique connection to the Western Grid, distinct from most of Texas's ERCOT grid, and the potential impact on their local electricity supply. Residents and council members voiced opposition and a lack of clear answers from state agencies.
El Paso City Council unanimously voted 8-0 to send a letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, seeking clarity and expressing frustration over his temporary pause on new data center construction. The city's concern is specifically tied to its unique position on the Western electric grid, separate from the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) which serves most of the state.
During an August 18 meeting, residents like Patricia Osmand voiced strong opposition to data centers, stating they are "ruining cities across the state." City Representative Chris Canales acknowledged that while most Texas cities are on the ERCOT grid, others are not, and there are "many parallel efforts to understand how those cities fit into the governor’s order."
Ian Bowley from the Strategic and Legislative Affairs Department reported that the city has contacted multiple agencies, including El Paso Electric and the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in Austin, but has not received clarity on how the governor's order applies to non-ERCOT areas. El Paso is now exploring legislative options to direct the PUCT to apply specific guidelines to these areas. State Rep. Mary González (D-Clint) urged El Paso leaders to prioritize community interests and find a balance between innovation and protecting resources.