EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 El Paso Electric\u2019s proposal to build a new natural gas power plant intended to serve Meta\u2019s data center is moving into a key stage of the approval process, with testimony scheduled over the next two days.<\/p>\n
The State Office of Administrative Hearings is set to hear testimony Wednesday and Thursday on El Paso Electric\u2019s request to build the proposed McCloud Generation Facility in northeast El Paso. The facility would primarily provide power to Meta\u2019s data center during its first several years of operation.<\/p>\n
The city of El Paso said it supports protecting local ratepayers and wants to ensure customers are not paying for a facility built to serve a single large customer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are prepared to present the city\u2019s case at hearing while continuing discussions with El Paso Electric in hopes of reaching a resolution that provides meaningful protections for existing customers,\u201d the city said in a statement.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, an administrative law judge is expected to issue a recommendation in October. <\/p>\n
The Public Utility Commission is expected to make a final decision in December.<\/p>\n
RELATED: City urges state regulators to reject EPE\u2019s McCloud generation plant certificate<\/a><\/p>\n