$500 M gas-powered plant for $10 B data centre
El Paso Electric plans a $500-M gas-powered plant to supply Meta’s $10-B data centre, with costs eventually passed to ratepayers.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Texas, El Paso: As Meta Platforms ramps up construction on its new El Paso data centre, El Paso Electric is moving quickly to build a dedicated power plant for the facility. Filings with the Public Utility Commission of Texas reveal that the utility intends to recover the plant’s costs from all customers after an initial one- to five-year period during which Meta will cover the expenses.
The planned 366-MW plant will use 813 small gas-fired generators that operate without water, but which will release pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The facility represents a near $500 M investment to meet the energy demands of Meta’s massive data centre.
Meta recently announced that its planned investment in the site has grown from $1.5 B to $1 B. The company also pledged increased community support, including job training programmes and bill assistance for local residents. During construction, more than 4,000 workers will be employed, and once operational, Meta expects to hire around 300 full-time staff, well above the 50 required under the city’s tax break agreement.
Executives stressed that alongside the expansion, the company is investing in renewable energy and water projects to help offset environmental impacts.
However, public concern over the project continues, mirroring opposition to Meta’s Project Jupiter data centre in nearby New Mexico. The city has scheduled multiple community meetings through 8 April to gather feedback on whether to continue attracting large-scale data centres.
Source: El Paso Matters
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