North America | January 20, 2026
The McCloud facility, backed by Meta, aims to supply 366 MW for accelerated data centre development, pending Texas PUC approval.
Image for illustrative purposes
USA, Texas, El Paso: El Paso Electric is seeking state approval to construct a $473 M, 366-MW natural gas power plant to serve Meta Platform’s future data centre in Northeast El Paso. Named the McCloud facility, it would operate on 13 ha (31 acres) adjacent to the $1.5 B data centre and is expected to be operational by 2027 if approved. Meta will fully fund the project and receive all power during a five-year “bridge period.”
The facility will feature 813 modular gas generators, each producing 450 kW, and will be built and operated by Enchanted Rock. El Paso Electric plans to finance construction through a combination of cash, equity, and debt. The plant is intended to meet immediate power requirements for Meta’s accelerated Region 2 development, complementing the previously planned 220 MW for Region 1.
City officials have intervened in the Public Utility Commission of Texas application to review potential impacts on ratepayers after the bridge period and ensure compliance with financial arrangements. Council members emphasised that intervention does not signal opposition but allows detailed review of costs, energy consumption, and future integration with the main transmission system.
El Paso Electric highlighted that Meta’s load would not be subsidised by existing customers and that future connection to the broader grid would require regulatory approval. Large-scale solar or traditional gas turbines were considered but rejected due to land limitations and lead times. The project forms part of a broader strategy to accommodate rapidly expanding AI-driven data centre demands in the region.
Source: KVIA
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