Residents protest Meta AI data center, voice neighborhood concerns

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) – Community members gathered Saturday in Northeast El Paso to protest Meta’s hyperscale AI data center, voicing concerns about the project’s long-term impacts on water resources and light pollution in nearby neighborhoods, saying it outweighs its promised economic benefits.

The protest, organized by Desert Guardians and Sembrando Esperanza 915, took place near the neighborhoods closest to the multi-billion-dollar data center currently under construction.

Organizers said the event was intended to give residents a chance to voice concerns they believe have not been fully addressed by Meta or local leaders.

“We’re not happy with any of the promises they’ve made so far because we believe all of the promises will fall short,” said Cynthia Acosta Crouse with Desert Guardians. “There’s no way to address the noise pollution, the air pollution, the heat pollution and all of the other consequences that we’re starting to see from the data center even as it’s being constructed.”

Several residents who live near the construction site said they have already noticed changes in their neighborhoods.

One homeowner said heavy water truck traffic on residential streets has created dust, while bright construction lighting has become noticeable at night.

Another resident told KFOX14 the project has become a deciding factor in whether to remain in the neighborhood.

“I am already looking at selling my house,” the resident said. “I’m already looking at relocating. We’re very upset.”

Meta announced earlier this year that its El Paso campus has grown into a more than $10 billion investment.

The company says the project will create more than 300 permanent jobs, support thousands of construction jobs during development.

Meta says it will match its electricity use with clean energy and restore twice the amount of water the facility uses to local watersheds.

To residents, water use remained one of the primary concerns raised during Saturday’s protest.

According to El Paso Water, the facility is expected to use an average of approximately 480,000 gallons of water per day, with usage reaching up to 2.5 million gallons on the hottest days.

“We do not want this data center in our community because it’s going to leave us without water and it’s going to raise everything — the water bills, the electric bills,” said Jacqueline Warren with Sembrando Esperanza.

Other attendees echoed similar concerns.

“What concerns me the most about bringing data centers to El Paso is that we are going to run out of water,” said Vianney Alderete Contreras, who attended the protest.

Clayton Tucker, a candidate for Texas agriculture commissioner who also attended the event, said water availability should remain the top priority.

“Water is life,” Tucker said. “If we run out of water, literally nothing else matters after that point.”

In addition to water use, protesters raised concerns about noise and air quality associated with both construction and future operations at the site.

Meta has said it continues to work with El Paso Water and El Paso Electric to reduce the project’s impact on the community and has committed to environmental initiatives, including restoring more water than the facility consumes.

Organizers said they plan to continue holding community events and urging city leaders to address residents’ concerns as construction progresses.

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