El Paso County Commissioners voted to direct county staff to draft a data‑center “best practices” guide meant to provide a consistent, nonbinding framework for evaluating future data‑center proposals and related infrastructure demands.

Commissioner Butler introduced the proposal as “not as a formal policy or any restrictions, but more as a shared framework and planning guide for us to use,” emphasizing the guide would clarify considerations such as water and energy use, costs, public‑safety coordination and community benefit. Butler asked staff to gather public input and return recommendations to the court.

Public commenters sharply framed the impetus for the guide. Michael Clark, a local resident, said El Paso’s arid setting makes water “our most limited and most vital resource” and urged the county to ensure developers bear the resource costs they request. Derek Pacheco (identified in public comment) described regional concerns about segmented project proposals and alleged back‑room conversations in neighboring counties; he urged a moratorium on heavy industrial projects that threaten shared water supplies, saying, “We need to put a moratorium on the development of these data centers and any other heavy industrial that is proposed with this area.”

County staff and commissioners said the issue is complex, touches multiple departments, and will likely require outside expertise. Staff noted existing tools—such as the county’s Green Works policy—and proposed early public outreach before drafting final recommendations. Commissioners also said they want the guide to address regional impacts that cross local jurisdictional lines, including effects of nearby New Mexico projects on El Paso County utilities and ratepayers.

After discussion about scope and resource needs, Commissioner Butler moved to direct staff to begin work on the guide; the motion, seconded and opened for vote, carried with the court voting to proceed. Staff indicated they will return with a proposed process, potential costs for outside expertise, and opportunities for public input.

Next steps: staff will collect input, perform research and report back to the commissioners with a draft scope and budget estimate for the guide.