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Mapping rural data center development finds growing opposition
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Stacker , KVIA ABC-7
· July 25, 2026
· 8 min read
Photo: KVIA ABC-7 · view original
Washington, D.C.’s metropolitan area has long hummed with data centers. The region, which encompasses much of Northern Virginia, has become known as Data Center Alley, home to more data centers than anywhere else in the world. But the data center boom, driven by the rise of AI and the race to bu...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting Stacker, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 25, 2026 Indexed here Jul 25, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The region, which encompasses much of Northern Virginia, has become known as Data Center Alley, home to more data centers than anywhere else in the world.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The growth of data centers in rural areas has significant implications for El Paso County, where smaller tax bases and limited government resources could be overwhelmed by the demands of these energy-intensive facilities. As data center development expands beyond traditional hubs like Northern Virginia, rural communities in Texas may face challenges in negotiating fair deals with developers and mitigating the potential negative impacts on local infrastructure and resources. The fact that 16 rural data centers are currently under construction or recently approved, representing 12% of all in-progress projects, suggests that this trend is likely to continue. El Paso County officials should be prepared to carefully consider the potential benefits and drawbacks of data center development, including the strain on local resources and the potential for facility closures, which could leave communities with significant tax revenue shortfalls.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 25, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 8 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Washington, D.C.’s metropolitan area has long hummed with data centers. The region, which encompasses much of Northern Virginia, has become known as Data Center Alley, home to more data centers than anywhere else in the world. But the data center boom, driven by the rise of AI and the race to bu...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 25, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Stacker at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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