El Paso County Commissioners approve resolution seeking state action on data centers

El Paso County Commissioners Court approved a resolution Monday and sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott calling for additional state action and protections surrounding data center development in the borderland.

The county is asking Abbott to clarify whether recent state protections for communities impacted by data centers apply to El Paso. Abbott recently directed ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission of Texas to audit data centers seeking connections to the state's primary power grid.

El Paso, however, is not part of ERCOT, prompting county leaders to ask that similar protections be extended to the region.

Commissioners are also requesting a pause on further data center development until concerns surrounding water use, electricity costs, infrastructure and environmental impacts are addressed. The county is also asking Abbott to consider a special legislative session on the issue.

The resolution calls for greater transparency surrounding water and electricity use, protections preventing infrastructure costs from falling on taxpayers, water conservation requirements and additional authority for counties to regulate large developments.