As the local impacts of data centers remain a key issue in the upcoming midterm election, Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX) is continuing to fight the Fort Bliss project in El Paso, Texas.
Since March, Rep. Escobar has demanded transparency from the Army on this project, which is being proposed on a military base. Last week, the Army and Carlyle Group held a meeting with Rep. Escobar and El Paso community members to discuss the latest updates to the project.
"Since March, when my team and I first learned of this project, we have asked that the public and local representatives be kept in the loop and be allowed to voice their concerns and ask questions,” Rep. Escobar said. “I’m grateful to the Army and Carlyle for their continued engagement.”
Rep. Escobar highlighted her list of requests, including moving the data center far away from neighborhoods, preserving local water resources, using renewable energy for electricity generation, and ensuring transparency and accountability.
"Today we learned that the location of the data center has indeed been moved, but it is still too close to residential areas,” Rep. Escobar said. “Close proximity to homes is not acceptable, and I will continue to advocate for a different location.”
El Pasoans are far from the only Americans fearful of the local impacts of data centers.
According to a Gallup poll, 71% of Americans say they oppose building AI data centers in their backyards.
Rep. Escobar said they also learned that its water use will likely rely on brackish water that will be sent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Plant for desalination. She said this is a “positive development.”
“And while the scale of the data center has also been reduced, they are still on track to utilize gas generation for their power needs,” Rep. Escobar said, adding that this remains a “serious concern.”
Rep. Escobar said she will continue to advocate to protect the community’s air quality by pushing for renewable energy.
"As more information becomes available, my team and I will continue to keep the community updated,” Rep. Escobar said.
