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El Paso City Council Challenges Meta-Backed Power Plant Proposal

KVIA•Thursday, June 18, 2026 at 6:29 PM•Nina Gallegos

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AI Summary

The City of El Paso has officially opposed El Paso Electric's (EPE) request for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) for a $551.8 million natural gas power plant intended to support a Meta data center. City Attorney Karla Nieman criticized EPE for failing to demonstrate the project's cost-effectiveness and for not conducting necessary analyses, such as competitive bidding and long-term financial projections. The city argues that local ratepayers should not bear the financial burden or risks associated with serving a single large customer. El Paso plans to continue advocating for transparency and protections for residents against potential rate increases.

Key Details: • El Paso Electric's CCN application is for a $551.8 million natural gas power plant. • Concerns include lack of competitive bidding and long-term cost analysis. • The city is asking the Public Utility Commission to deny the application. • Residents are urged to stay informed about potential impacts on utility rates.

city-council el-paso-electric meta power-plant utility-rates

People & Organizations

El Paso ElectricPublic Utility CommissionNortheast El PasoKarla Nieman

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