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<\/p>\nEL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 A standing-room-only crowd packed into the Don Haskins Recreational Center for El Paso\u2019s first community meeting on data centers, with residents voicing frustration over how the city is gathering public input for a new policy framework.<\/p>\n
Dozens filled the room and others overflowed into the hallway as people talked over each other while trying to be heard.<\/p>\n
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Crowded room at the Don Haskins Recreational Center during 1st city community meeting regarding new AI data center policy feedback. (Credit: KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n
The meeting was the first of six afternoon sessions the city is hosting to collect feedback on a data center policy framework that city leaders say will guide future projects, including issues such as land use, infrastructure and utilities.<\/p>\n
Directed by City Council, city leaders said community feedback is essential to forming the policy. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to hear from the community in order to develop this policy because it is so important that the community clearly finds it to be open,\u201d said Laura Cruz-Acosta, director of communications for the city of El Paso.<\/p>\n
Julia Spencer reports on Crowd packs Don Haskins Rec Center at El Paso\u2019s first AI data center policy meeting (Credit: KFOX14)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
City officials say the effort is also aligned with broader planning goals outlined in El Paso\u2019s ongoing Climate Action Plan<\/a>, which highlights the importance of evaluating data center development through environmental, economic, and community lenses.<\/p>\n The meeting was set up with three tables: one for community members to share the benefits of data centers, a second for concerns, and a third for how data centers should look in El Paso.<\/p>\n Some attendees said the format did not work.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a lot. We can\u2019t hear what the table discussions are happening, that are happening right now,\u201d said Diana Ramirez of the Amanecer People\u2019s Project.<\/p>\n Community members gathered at discussion table. (Credit:KFOX14\/CBS4)<\/p>\n Sebastian Coronado, a community member, said, \u201cIt was pretty inefficient to be honest with you. I didn\u2019t really hear anyone having any sort of productive conversations. And I didn\u2019t really feel like our voices were being heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Another community member, Sylvia, said, \u201cA lot of people show up. And the room is very small. And we\u2019re asked to write on little sticky notes.\u201d<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: El Paso City Council approves climate action plan to address rising heat<\/a><\/p>\n KFOX14\/CBS4 questioned city officials why El Paso is developing a data center policy framework now, after a major project like the Meta AI data center is already moving forward in the city. <\/p>\n Cruz-Acosta said the idea had been discussed during climate action plan discussions and was something the community had directed the city to pursue.<\/p>\n \u201cSo this is something that we had actually discussed during the climate action plan discussion, it\u2019s something that we will move forward towards. It is something that the community had directed us to do. This speed with which it moves, sometimes it does move on side by side, and sometimes it moves a little behind schedule,\u201d Cruz-Acosta said.<\/p>\n KFOX14\/CBS4 then asked whether the new policy framework will apply to the Meta data center and whether it could change how that facility is built or operates, Cruz-Acosta said, \u201cI don\u2019t know. I don\u2019t know that answer.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Community](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774328830_299_ce68eef0-326f-4412-882c-56bb16629de1-Sequence_JULIAPUBLICMEETINGDATACENTERS_0001_frame_415.jpeg\"\/)
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