El Paso Electric has proposed a $473M gas plant just for Meta. (KVIA)
To meet the accelerated timeline for Meta's $1.5B El Paso data center, the utility has proposed skipping large-scale turbines in favor of a 366 MW array of 813 modular natural gas generators designed to come online by 2027.
Meta would shoulder all costs during an initial five-year "bridge period," during which the facility would remain electrically disconnected from the broader grid to ensure regular ratepayers don’t subsidize the tech giant's power.
Yes, but: Despite the financial firewall, the El Paso City Council unanimously voted to intervene in the regulatory process, citing concerns that the plant could eventually be rolled into the general rate base.