EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Changes to a planned data center at Fort Bliss are being touted as progress by U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, who said the Army and the Carlyle Group appear to be responding to community concerns even as key issues remain unresolved.

On Monday, Escobar released a statement describing what she called “positive developments” about the project, including a smaller footprint, the use of brackish water and a move away from residential areas. She said the facility will still be located close to neighborhoods and that she will continue pushing for a different location.

Escobar also said she remains concerned the data center will rely on gas-generated power.

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Below is Escobar’s full statement:

“Today, the Army and Carlyle Group held a meeting of El Paso community stakeholders to discuss the latest updates on the Fort Bliss data center.

“Since March, when my team and I first learned of this project, we have asked that the public and local representatives be kept in the loop and be allowed to voice their concerns and ask questions. I’m grateful to the Army and Carlyle for their continued engagement.

“I’ve consistently had a number of requests, including that they:

Move the data center far away from any neighborhood;Preserve our water;Use renewable energy for the electrical generation;Be transparent and accountable.

“Today we learned that the location of the data center has indeed been moved, but it is still too close to residential areas. Close proximity to homes is not acceptable, and I will continue to advocate for a different location.

“We also learned that their water use will likely be of brackish water that will be sent to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Plant for desalination, which I see as a positive development. And while the scale of the data center has also been reduced, they are still on track to utilize gas generation for their power needs. The gas generation for power remains an additional serious concern. We must protect our community’s air quality, and I will continue to push for the use of renewable energy.

“As more information becomes available, my team and I will continue to keep the community updated.”

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