EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar renewed her criticism of large-scale data center development during a House Appropriations Committee markup Wednesday night, warning that projects planned for the El Paso region could strain local resources and limit public participation in permitting decisions.
Escobar spoke in support of an amendment that would prohibit federal funding from being used to implement a proposed Trump administration policy that she said would allow data center developers to begin construction before obtaining certain environmental permits and before local residents have an opportunity to comment on projects. The amendment was rejected by Republicans on the committee.
During her remarks, Escobar described data centers as one of the most pressing issues facing her district, citing concerns about electricity demand, air quality, and water consumption.
“In my community, the data center issue is probably the number one front and center issue,” Escobar said.
The congresswoman noted that three data centers are already under development in the El Paso region, with another planned on a military installation.
She said the facilities are expected to rely on gas turbines to significantly increase power generation needed to support operations.
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Escobar argued that the additional energy demand could worsen air quality in a region already facing environmental challenges. She also pointed to El Paso’s rising temperatures, noting that the city is among the fastest-warming communities in the United States.
Water usage was another major concern raised by Escobar. She said residents in the drought-prone region have long adopted conservation measures, including limiting outdoor watering and replacing traditional lawns with drought-resistant landscaping. She questioned whether those efforts could be undermined by large data centers requiring substantial amounts of water for cooling systems.
The congresswoman also cited public opposition to data center construction, referencing a Gallup poll that she said found 71% of Americans oppose the development of AI data centers in their local communities.
A significant portion of Escobar’s remarks focused on a proposed Environmental Protection Agency revision to the New Source Review permitting process. According to Escobar, the proposal would change when facilities are considered to have begun construction, allowing developers to build portions of projects before obtaining Clean Air Act permits for emissions-producing equipment.
She argued that the change could allow data center projects powered by gas generators to move forward without the public comment periods typically associated with air permitting reviews.
“What this means is that a data center that relies on gas polluting generators like those in my community, they’d be able to begin millions of dollars worth of construction without permits and, more importantly, without the public comment period that these permits require,” Escobar said.
Escobar also singled out Meta, one of the companies developing a data center in the El Paso area. She said she has repeatedly invited company representatives to participate in a community town hall to address residents’ questions about the project, but that the company has declined to attend.
“Constituents have real questions and they deserve answers,” Escobar said. “Meta has refused to engage with my community.”
The congresswoman said local residents should have a voice in decisions involving major developments that could affect natural resources and community infrastructure.
“We cannot let these big corporations have access to our natural resources without the public being involved, without there being a process,” she said.
Escobar said her amendment was intended to preserve opportunities for public review and comment before construction begins on major data center projects.
Despite her arguments, the proposal failed to advance during the committee markup.
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