EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Residents of Montana Vista and nearby neighborhoods are raising concerns about a proposed data center to be built in Fort Bliss, which they say could have major impacts on water, air quality and electricity costs throughout El Paso.
The Sembrando Esperanza Coalition says it is led by residents of nine El Paso County neighborhoods and that its members and partners organize for economic and environmental justice and community participation.
Starting in the fall of 2025, the Sembrando Esperanza Coalition opposes data centers in El Paso County, including the META AI Data Center in the City of El Paso.
The organization said one of its member organizations has received confirmation that a private company, Carlyle, will build a data center on the site it wants to lease from Fort Bliss.
Jordan Salas reports on Montana Vista residents opposing the proposed Fort Bliss data center (Credit: KFOX14)
RELATED: The US Army announces an agreement with private industry for the lease of the Fort Bliss data center
If we allow it, the Fort Bliss Information Center will be in our backyard in Montana Vista, Homestead Meadows and the Rich Beem neighborhood. However, make no mistake, all of El Paso will be affected,” said Ralph Carrasco, president of Empowering Area Communities. & Families (EACH). “These data centers will use up our local water, pollute our shared air and increase our prices down the line.
Carrasco also said residents in Montana Vista and Homestead Meadows have already received warnings about transmission lines that may be on their property.
“In addition, the use of energy will affect property rights. Residents of Montana Vista and Homestead Meadows have already received warnings about transmission lines that may enter outside their property. Who will benefit from these new lines? The META McCloud center. There is no escaping the effect of data centers in our area,” Carrasco said.
Mario Solano, vice president of EACH, criticized what he described as the rise in electricity prices and the energy needs of large data centers.
“Just like water, we still feel that we have to save energy to help our environment and save money. We have spent thousands of dollars on solar panels to do both. And for what, so that META and now Carlyle can use more electricity while EPE continues to raise our rates? These data centers are terrible for the environment and the economy of our area,” Solano said.
Saul Gonzalez, editor of Sembrando Esperanza, created this issue as part of the wider climate challenge.
“We are in a climate crisis and our elected leaders, employers and businesses need to meet the times, not continue to contribute to the problem,” Gonzalez said.
El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar said the decision to go ahead with the Fort Bliss data center came from the White House and raised concerns about the lack of public support. He spoke to KFOX14/CBS4 after a town hall in Northeast El Paso Monday evening.
“The White House has decided that it wants to use military systems to secure data centers,” Escobar said.
Escobar said he asked the Army to delay the decision until the public had a chance to weigh in.
“I asked them to delay making a decision until they heard from the community, but they went ahead with it,” he said.
He also said he is working with other members of Congress on potential legislation related to data centers, including transparency, oversight and what he described as “guardians.”
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