El Paso community challenges Meta's proposed power plant for data center campus, highlighting growing local opposition to hyperscaler infrastructure.

The city of El Paso is continuing its fight to block El Paso Electric's (EPE) proposed power plant to serve the Meta data center.

City officials will present testimony at a hearing on the McCloud Generation facility before the State Office of Administrative Hearings, beginning Wednesday, July 8. At the hearing, parties involved will present evidence and testimony regarding EPE's application for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for the proposed natural gas generation facility.

"Our priority throughout this process has been protecting El Paso ratepayers," said City Attorney Karla Nieman. "We are prepared to present the city's case at hearing while continuing discussions with El Paso Electric in hopes of reaching a resolution that provides meaningful protections for existing customers."

The proposed facility is designed to serve Meta's massive data center being built in Northeast El Paso during its first several years of operation before possibly becoming part of EPE's broader electrical system. The city's opposition stems from concerns that ratepayers would bear increased costs to serve a single large customer.

An administrative law judge is expected to issue a Proposal for Decision in October. The Public Utility Commission is on track to consider EPE's application and vote in December.