AI Data Centers in the Land of Diminished Local News
A data center deal between Meta and El Paso went unreported in 2023 due to a lack of robust local journalism. The deal included $800 million in construction and 35 years of tax abatements.
El Paso's local journalism landscape is limited, with few reporters covering major stories. In 2023, a deal between Meta and the City of El Paso to build a data center went unreported, with the company receiving 35 years of tax abatements. The data center will train and deploy artificial intelligence models, requiring significant power and liquid cooling. Meta committed to spending $800 million on construction and creating 300 jobs. Local officials and economic development departments negotiated the deal with Meta, with some claiming nondisclosure agreements were signed. The lack of transparency has raised concerns among local advocacy groups and journalists.
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