El_Paso_Data_Center_Ordinance_DRAFT.docx
This is a Word document (.docx). Download it to open in Word, Pages, or Google Docs.
What the ordinance does
- Special permit + public hearing + Council vote for every big data center — no more quiet approvals.
- Keeps them 1,000 feet from homes, schools, parks, hospitals, and churches.
- Caps water, requires recycled water for cooling, and makes them meter and publish use every three months.
- Cost-causation: the company pays 100% of the power and water upgrades it causes — not your utility bill.
- Requires a teardown bond before opening, and sets daily fines (up to $2,000/day) with loss of permit for violations.
- Built to hold up in court: neutral wording, sourced findings, and recommended local values now filled in (the City Attorney can confirm before adoption).
Read also: Plain-language summary on the briefing · Crosswalk to the City's draft · Evidence Record · All documents