Meta El Paso AI 10B Data Center, $10B AI-optimized data center
Status: Under Construction / Scale-Up Phase (March 2026) | Location: El Paso, Texas
Project Overview
Meta’s El Paso project marks a major inflection point in Meta Platforms’s global infrastructure strategy, reflecting the accelerating demand for AI-scale compute. Initially announced in October 2025 as a $1.5 billion development, the company dramatically expanded the investment to $10 billion on March 26, 2026, targeting a massive 1-gigawatt (GW) capacity. This positions the campus among the largest single-site AI data center deployments globally, purpose-built to support the intensive workloads associated with “superintelligence” initiatives and next-generation generative AI models. The scale and design of the facility highlight Meta’s transition toward hyperscale AI infrastructure that requires unprecedented levels of power density, compute efficiency, and operational resilience.
From a technical perspective, the El Paso campus is emerging as a sustainability benchmark for arid-region data centers. The facility will deploy an advanced closed-loop liquid cooling system engineered to operate with zero water consumption for most of the year, a critical innovation in the desert Southwest. In parallel, Meta has committed to achieving “water positive” status by restoring 200% of the water it consumes to local watersheds, working with organizations such as DigDeep. This approach not only mitigates environmental impact but also aligns with increasing scrutiny around resource usage in large-scale digital infrastructure projects. To support the enormous 1 GW load, Meta is collaborating with El Paso Electric to deploy new grid infrastructure, including dedicated high-voltage transmission lines, ensuring reliable and scalable power delivery for long-term operations.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Meta El Paso AI 10B Data Center, $10B AI-optimized data center |
| Location | El Paso, Texas |
| Status | Under Construction / Scale-Up Phase (March 2026) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 Online: 2027; Full 1GW Scale: 2028 |
| Total IT Load | 1,000 MW (1 GW) |
| Total Capacity | Meta's 29th global facility; designed for Llama 4/5 training clustersIV (AI-Optimized Hyperscale) |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (AI-Optimized Hyperscale) |
| Project Type | Purpose-built AI Inference & Training Supercluster |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Texas |
| Population | ~30.5 million (2025 est.) |
| Urban Agglomeration | ~27–28 million (major metro clusters combined) |
| City GDP | ~$2.4 trillion (2024 est., comparable to G7 economies) |
| Per Capita Income | ~$78,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 1 (Global Economic Powerhouse) |
| Key Strengths | Energy (oil, gas, renewables), Data Centers & AI Infrastructure, Technology (Austin hub), Logistics & Trade (US–Mexico corridor), Manufacturing, Business-friendly policies, Large land & power availability |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Meta Platforms, Inc. |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | El Paso Electric / Texas Water Action Collaborative. |
| Construction Contractor | TBD (Over 3,000 workers expected at peak). |
| MEP Engineering | Meta Global Infrastructure. |
| Network Connectivity | Direct backbone access to Meta's West Coast and Latin American gateways. |
| Power Infrastructure | 1 GW dedicated capacity; 100% renewable energy matching. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 1,000 MW |
| UPS Redundancy | $2N$ architecture with advanced battery backup systems. |
| Cooling System | AI-optimized closed-loop liquid cooling. |
| Connectivity | Strategic hub for North American and cross-border AI traffic. |
| PUE Target | < 1.10 |
| Energy Mix | 100% Renewable (Supported by 5.2 GW of Meta-contracted TX solar/wind). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | March 26, 2026 (Investment Scale-up) |
| Construction Start | Late 2025 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2027 |
| Full Buildout | 2028 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | $10 Billion |
| Funding | Meta Platforms, Inc. Capital Expenditure. |