EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — A standing-room-only crowd packed into the Don Haskins Recreational Center for El Paso’s first community meeting on data centers, with residents voicing frustration over how the city is gathering public input for a new policy framework.
Dozens filled the room and others overflowed into the hallway as people talked over each other while trying to be heard.
Crowded room at the Don Haskins Recreational Center during 1st city community meeting regarding new AI data center policy feedback. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
The meeting was the first of six afternoon sessions the city is hosting to collect feedback on a data center policy framework that city leaders say will guide future projects, including issues such as land use, infrastructure and utilities.
Directed by City Council, city leaders said community feedback is essential to forming the policy.
“We want to hear from the community in order to develop this policy because it is so important that the community clearly finds it to be open,” said Laura Cruz-Acosta, director of communications for the city of El Paso.
Julia Spencer reports on Crowd packs Don Haskins Rec Center at El Paso’s first AI data center policy meeting (Credit: KFOX14)
City officials say the effort is also aligned with broader planning goals outlined in El Paso’s ongoing Climate Action Plan, which highlights the importance of evaluating data center development through environmental, economic, and community lenses.
The meeting was set up with three tables: one for community members to share the benefits of data centers, a second for concerns, and a third for how data centers should look in El Paso.
Some attendees said the format did not work.
“It’s a lot. We can’t hear what the table discussions are happening, that are happening right now,” said Diana Ramirez of the Amanecer People’s Project.
Community members gathered at discussion table. (Credit:KFOX14/CBS4)
Sebastian Coronado, a community member, said, “It was pretty inefficient to be honest with you. I didn’t really hear anyone having any sort of productive conversations. And I didn’t really feel like our voices were being heard.”
Another community member, Sylvia, said, “A lot of people show up. And the room is very small. And we’re asked to write on little sticky notes.”
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KFOX14/CBS4 questioned city officials why El Paso is developing a data center policy framework now, after a major project like the Meta AI data center is already moving forward in the city.
Cruz-Acosta said the idea had been discussed during climate action plan discussions and was something the community had directed the city to pursue.
“So this is something that we had actually discussed during the climate action plan discussion, it’s something that we will move forward towards. It is something that the community had directed us to do. This speed with which it moves, sometimes it does move on side by side, and sometimes it moves a little behind schedule,” Cruz-Acosta said.
KFOX14/CBS4 then asked whether the new policy framework will apply to the Meta data center and whether it could change how that facility is built or operates, Cruz-Acosta said, “I don’t know. I don’t know that answer.”
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It remains unclear whether any new rules would apply to projects already underway, including the Meta facility.
Residents also raised concerns about how data centers could affect El Paso, particularly in a desert region where water and electricity demands are major issues. Data centers can require large amounts of water and electricity to operate.
Community members adding sticky notes with feedback onto poster. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
“I’m worried about our natural resources, and I’m worried about being able to live in the desert going forward,” Ramirez said.
Sylvia said, “And I’m extremely concerned about the extra water, the water getting depleted that will happen. We are the desert.”
Tito Cortes, a community member, said, “We don’t know this could be a good thing. We don’t know this could be a terrible thing. But at the same time to, you know, it just, we have to make sure people know, especially by the northeast side, they’re gonna be protected, whether it’s from the light pollution, noise pollution, the pollution itself.”
The remainder of the community meetings are as follows:Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at the Veterans Recreation Center (5301 Salem Dr.)Thursday, March 26, 2026 at the Pavo Real Recreation Center (9301 Alameda Ave.)Monday, March 30, 2026 at the Beast Urban Recreation Center (13501 Jason Crandall Dr.)Thursday, April 2, 2026 at the Chamizal Community Center (2119 Cypress Ave.)Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at the Wayne Thornton Community Center (3134 Jefferson Ave.)
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