{"id":174589,"date":"2026-02-21T19:57:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-21T19:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/174589\/"},"modified":"2026-02-21T19:57:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-21T19:57:06","slug":"el-paso-water-maintains-meta-contract-finalized-in-2023-after-social-media-exchange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/174589\/","title":{"rendered":"El Paso Water maintains Meta contract finalized in 2023 after social media exchange"},"content":{"rendered":"

EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) \u2014 A social media exchange this week between El Paso Water and a local community coalition has led to formal clarification<\/a> from the utility about its agreement with Meta.<\/p>\n

The online back and forth began after Sembrando Esperanza, a resident led coalition focused on utility rates, water use and large scale development, publicly questioned whether the water service agreement with Meta had ever been signed.<\/a><\/p>\n

Following the exchange, ARC El Paso reached out to El Paso Water seeking clarification about the contract\u2019s status. On Feb. 19, the utility provided a written statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe contract was fully executed on December 5, 2023, as a result of the PSB\u2019s public action from the public meeting held at 5:30 p.m. on December 4, 2023,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

EP Water added that in January 2026, officials verbally communicated that Meta had not yet finalized details of how it would fulfill its water restoration offset commitment. The utility emphasized that the restoration effort is a Meta corporate program and \u201cis separate from our contract.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to EP Water, any recent confusion involved Meta\u2019s water restoration commitment, not the legally binding service agreement to provide water.<\/p>\n

On Feb. 20, ARC El Paso reached out to coalition representative Ver\u00f3nica Carbajal, a former 2020 El Paso mayoral candidate.<\/p>\n

Carbajal said coalition members were told during a January conversation with a utility administrator that the contract had not been signed. The group said it had obtained an unsigned copy of the agreement and believed there was still time to organize against it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that time, the person that we spoke with said the contract had not been signed,\u201d Carbajal said. \u201cSo we were surprised by that and thought this is an opportunity for us to then organize so that it doesn\u2019t get signed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carbajal said the coalition was focused on the written agreement obligating the public utility to supply water to the data center.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s very different than what we were talking about,\u201d she said. \u201cWe were talking about the promise from us, our public company, to offer them water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the service agreement is finalized, Carbajal said residents still have ways to engage.<\/p>\n

She said the coalition plans to continue attending Public Service Board meetings and monitoring any potential amendments to the contract. She also pointed to upcoming city and county discussions about data center policy frameworks as opportunities for residents to push for stricter oversight of future projects.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there are amendments, new permits, or future agreements, those are moments where the community still has a voice,\u201d Carbajal said.<\/p>\n

She added that the coalition is exploring whether the contract could be challenged based on what it views as changed circumstances, including ongoing drought conditions and infrastructure concerns.<\/p>\n

City and county leaders have promoted the 1.5 billion dollar Meta data center as a major economic investment expected to generate construction jobs, long term employment and regional growth. Business leaders have described the project as strengthening the region\u2019s tax base and competitiveness.<\/p>\n

Critics remain concerned about water consumption in a drought prone region, infrastructure strain and potential impacts on utility rates.<\/p>\n

With the execution date now clarified, the question of whether the contract was signed appears settled. The broader debate continues over how water use will be managed, how restoration commitments will be carried out and what oversight remains as the project moves forward.<\/p>\n

RECOMMENDED: James Talarico speaks on immigration policy reform outside Camp East Montana<\/a><\/p>\n

Sign up<\/a> to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.<\/p>\n