“Voted Aye on directing staff to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement with Meta over its Northeast El Paso data center, including explicit ratepayer protection”

The El Paso City Council voted 8-0, after revisions, to direct staff to negotiate a Community Benefits Agreement with Meta Platforms covering its Northeast El Paso data center. The agreement is to address environmental protections, financial commitments, utility infrastructure improvements, explicit rate payer protection, and community accountability measures including safeguards related to water and electric utility resources, plus "El Paso First" hiring commitments. Representative Renard U. Johnson was absent. Outcome: Approved as revised, 8-0 (1 absent) Recorded vote: Aye. Body: El Paso City Council. Measure: 26-0776.