EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Facebook’s parent company, Meta, is going to build a new artificial intelligence center in El Paso.
The nearly 1.2 million square-feet facility will be built in Northeast El Paso and is expected to cost $1.5 billion. The data center will create more than 1,800 construction jobs at “peak development,” with 100 operational positions once construction is completed.
The announcement has been met with excitement from local and state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott who called the project an, “incredible moment for El Paso.” However, some residents have raised concerns over the data center’s water and energy consumption.
According to El Paso Water, Meta will be replacing the water it uses.
“EPWater applauds Meta for committing to offset its water use by 200%,” said El Paso Water Public Affairs Officer, Denise Para. “We look forward to collaborating with Meta on effective offset strategies that benefit our community and the environment. Meta has also pledged to adopt advanced water recycling and efficiency measures designed to significantly reduce the data center’s overall water consumption. EPWater will supply the water necessary to operate the Meta Data Center, with an estimated maximum use of 750,000 gallons per day. Infrastructure will also be in place to provide additional water if needed. Our diverse water portfolio ensures a sustainable and reliable water supply for the El Paso community, while accommodating new industrial customers and future growth.”
Meanwhile, El Paso Electric says its customers will not be negatively impacted by the data center, as Meta plans to cover the costs of the infrastructure and usage it requires to operate.
“The initial phase will require approximately 220 megawatts of power, which will be sourced from El Paso Electric’s existing power infrastructure through an agreement with Meta,” said Director of Corporate Communications and Marketing, George De La Torre. “Meta is covering the costs for the dedicated infrastructure and usage it requires, ensuring that consumption or rates will not negatively impact other EPE customers.”
El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego says he plans to hold Meta accountable for their conservation claims, in a project that has been nearly a decade in the making.
“I do want that sense of excitement from the community. I hope they realize that bringing in a company like Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, is a big thing for El Paso,” said Judge Samaniego. “I want to make sure the community knows that we are going to hold their feet to the fire in what they’ve said about being part of the community, integrating into the community, and making sure they contribute to energy conservation. We want to help them be successful, but they also have to be accountable for the way they’ve gone about getting to El Paso. We are going to make sure it’s a great partnership going forward.”
Meta highlighted several key factors in its decision-making process to target El Paso for its newest data center, including the availability of a strong workforce, robust energy resources, and the region’s business-friendly environment.
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