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Residents, organizers urge county to block or renegotiate Meta, citing water and heat risks
Summary
Public commenters pressed the Commissioners Court to oppose incentives and revisit a 381 agreement with Meta, saying hyperscale AI data centers use far more water and energy than traditional facilities and increase local heat and other harms. Organizers asked the county to coordinate with the city and utilities and to direct staff to pursue exit options.
Organizers and neighborhood leaders used the countypublic-comment period to press the Commissioners Court to act against large AI "hyperscale" data centers they say will strain water, electricity and neighborhood quality of life.
"Hyperscale data centers require 10 times more water and energy," said Saul Gonzales, an organizer with Semoran Esperanza and a Precinct 2 resident. Gonzales urged the court to publish and implement the county's best-practices guide for data centers, align it with the city's framework and explore cancelling the county's 381 agreement with Meta, a contract he described in public comment as "a terrible deal." He acknowledged the court's limited direct authority over some locations but asked the court to use whatever influence it has to exit unfavorable terms.
Veronica Carvajal, an organizer with the Sandand Esperanza Coalition, told the court that El Paso has been identified as one of the fastest-warming U.S. cities and said community members fear that data centers will increase ambient temperatures, generate noise and lights, and use large amounts of water despite claims of closed-loop systems. "We are fighting El Paso Electric and the city over incentives," Carvajal said, urging the court to coordinate with the city and water utility and to support local pushback.
Alyssa Tamayo, the county's governmental affairs manager, told the court staff are tracking state and local developments and that the governor's recent letter to the Public Utility Commission included a request that data centers "reduce impacts on local communities by implementing best practices such as setbacks, noise reduction technology, and other measures that take into account the concerns of the neighbors." Tamayo said that language indicates potential state-level action the county could support.
Court members and staff did not adopt new policy at the meeting; the public-comment segment concluded with the court asking staff to continue coordinating with stakeholders and to present potential next steps in future agenda items. The court did not vote on any agreement or ordinance during this session.
What happened next: Court staff said they will continue work on a county best-practices guide for data centers and can return to the court with a proposed action item or legal analysis. No formal change to the countyMeta agreement was made at this meeting.
Why it matters: Commenters said hyperscale AI facilities pose long-term risks to water supply, energy rates and neighborhood livability in areas already coping with heat and scarce water. The county's choices about whether to negotiate, withhold incentives or seek legal pathways to alter agreements will affect future development, utility planning and community resilience.
