by Special to El Paso Matters, El Paso Matters
December 31, 2025

By Jackie Butler

As El Paso County considers large-scale industrial investment, the real question isn’t how much we attract, but how we ensure it delivers lasting economic value for our community.

Jackie Butler

We’ve already seen two major data center developments take shape in our region. And while I’m not aware of any new proposals today, it would be reasonable to expect that more interest will follow. That’s why now is the time to plan, not react.

Next week, I’m bringing forward an agenda item to begin developing a Data Center Best Practices Guide for El Paso County. This is a proactive step to ensure that as interest in this type of development grows, the county is prepared with a framework that supports thoughtful planning, responsible resource use and long-term economic benefit for our community.

Because this effort would require coordination across departments and the use of county staff time, I’m asking my colleagues on Commissioners Court to consider and approve this work so it’s done transparently and with clear direction. The intent is to keep this effort focused and practical — centered on data collection, preparedness, coordination and early evaluation — recognizing that counties in Texas lack zoning or land-use authority, do not oversee any public utilities, and instead must rely on planning, coordination and responsible stewardship of public resources. 

Data centers are different from traditional industrial projects, and I’ve spent considerable time reading, learning and researching their impacts on other communities. They often involve significant capital investment but relatively few permanent jobs, while placing substantial demands on electricity, water and long-term infrastructure. 

For El Paso County, the question isn’t whether we welcome innovation, we absolutely do. The question is whether that innovation translates into real economic growth for our residents. 

That means understanding the full public cost of these projects, weighing long-term infrastructure demands against long-term tax revenue, and ensuring development contributes to local opportunity, workforce pathways, and meaningful community investment. 

Counties across the country are grappling with data center developments and learning that waiting until a project is already proposed is too late. Communities are asking basic but important questions: How much water will this use, and for how long? Will this increase electricity costs? What happens during a drought or grid emergency? How will nearby neighborhoods be affected? How many data centers are too many? And what is the net public benefit over time? 

Developing best practices now allows us to address those questions. It creates transparency for residents, predictability for developers, and a shared framework for county departments that will be called upon as these projects move forward.

Just as importantly, it signals that El Paso County welcomes development aligned with our values. Growth should strengthen our region, not strain it. Planning ahead helps ensure that data centers — if and when they come — contribute to long-term resilience and economic vitality, rather than becoming isolated or obsolete facilities with outsized impacts.  

As someone who grew up and still lives in an unincorporated community, I know the real cost of development without foresight. Planning is how we avoid repeating past mistakes, ensuring growth for everyone who calls this region home. 

We encourage local residents to engage with this proposal online, in writing, or in person. By listening, participating, and sharing your perspective, you help ensure that our community’s values are reflected in the policies that shape our shared future.

Jackie Butler is county commissioner for Precinct 1.

This <a target=”_blank” href=”https://elpasomatters.org/2025/12/31/opinion-el-paso-county-must-ensure-data-centers-deliver-real-economic-value/”>article</a> first appeared on <a target=”_blank” href=”https://elpasomatters.org”>El Paso Matters</a> and is republished here under a <a target=”_blank” href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/”>Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<img src=”https://i0.wp.com/elpasomatters.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-epmatters-favicon2.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1″ style=”width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;”>

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