Private developer pitches multi‑building digital infrastructure campus in Santa Teresa; utilities and water flagged as constraints

A private developer and its representatives presented a proposal to the committee to build a large digital infrastructure campus near Santa Teresa, saying the project would combine large data‑center buildings with co‑located manufacturing and utility infrastructure.

Landrum Napier, chairman of Borderplex Digital Assets, described the campus concept as a repeatable, modular approach that co‑locates power, water, cooling and data facilities so the region can attract "hyperscalers" and advanced manufacturers. Napier said the company has site control for a property near Santa Teresa and that a campus could involve multiple buildings with aggregate enclosed area in the low millions of square feet and a consumption profile "north of a gigawatt" in power needs. He and other presenters said they are in active discussions with potential tenants.

Presenters discussed major infrastructure constraints and policy levers: adequate, reliable electric baseload and interconnection capacity; microgrids and PRC regulatory timing; water availability and new, lower‑water cooling technologies; and near‑term road access for heavy construction equipment. They highlighted recently passed state microgrid legislation (House Bill 93, discussed in testimony) and other incentives as factors that could speed deployment.

Why this matters: proponents said data centers and associated advanced manufacturing generate long‑term, high‑paying jobs and recurring tax revenues; presenters also said the projects require large near‑term construction inputs and durable utility access. Committee members asked about local utility impacts and whether distribution co‑ops would be affected; presenters said the Borderplex plan intends to add generation and to coordinate with El Paso Electric rather than draw down cooperative distribution systems.

Ending: Presenters asked the Legislature to support planning, expedite permitting and coordinate utility and water characterization work so the region could compete for investments that proponents said are being made elsewhere in the U.S.