EL PASO, Texas — While everyone is talking about data centers in Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott’s temporary pause on new construction, in El Paso the conversation is different because of its electric grid.
El Paso has roughly six to 17 data centers that are established or currently being developed.
On Aug. 18, the El Paso City Council met to discuss and approve sending a letter to Abbott regarding the independence of El Paso’s power source since it is connected to the Western Grid. Most of Texas is part of its own independent grid run by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT.
“Nobody likes any of the data centers across Texas,” said El Paso resident Patrcia Osmand during the August meeting. “Doesn’t matter which party you’re on.”
Frustration rang out from the public during the meeting and from city council members, as there had been more questions than answers following Abbott’s order.
“Most cities in Texas are on the Texas grid, ERCOT, but there are some other municipalities that are not,” said El Paso City Representative Chris Canales. “So, I know that there are many parallel efforts to understand how those cities fit into the governor’s order. But this is another step that we can take, and I’m glad that my colleagues proposed it today. No guarantee that we’ll get a response from the governor, but I hope that we will.”
“What Abbott is doing is nothing more than political theater because he knows across Texas, his voter base is flipping to the other side because data centers are ruining cities across the state,” said Osmand.
Ian Bowley from the Strategic and Legislative Affairs Department reported that the city has contacted multiple agencies, including El Paso Electric, regarding the governor’s June order. The team met with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) in Austin, but hit another roadblock.
“We, the team, visited Austin and met with the PUCT staff directly,” said Bowley. “We did not get any clarity. They did not seem to know the answer to that question. We have been working quickly to try to get this lobbyist on board so that they can pursue this line of questioning as well.”
El Paso is exploring legislative options to direct the PUCT to apply these guidelines specifically to non-ERCOT areas.
State Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, says that El Paso city leaders need to do a better job of prioritizing community interests.
“I don’t think it’s impossible to balance innovation and economic development with protecting communities, water, air, resources; these two things are in two separate spaces,” said Gonzalez. “The point, but what is needed, is for everybody to come to the table, understand what the guardrails are, and give people the voice.”
With the City Council voting unanimously 8-0, the letter was sent to Abbott’s office. They say it’s just a waiting game as the community in West Texas is seeking answers.