Opposition to a proposed hyperscale data center in the Glass Mountains of Brewster County is organizing, with a community meeting scheduled for Nov. 2 in Alpine to discuss the development and efforts to stop it.
According to a flyer circulated by opponents, Pacifico Energy is planning a gas turbine-powered data center in the Glass Mountains, a mountain range northeast of Alpine near the northern gateway to the Big Bend region.
The proposed development has prompted concerns among opponents about the potential effects of large-scale industrial development on the region’s landscape, natural resources and rural character.
The community meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the Granada Theatre, 207 E. Holland Ave. in downtown Alpine.
Organizers say the meeting will feature a panel discussion outlining what is known about the proposed project, followed by a question-and-answer session and opportunities for community input.
The gathering is being promoted under the slogan “Keep Data Centers Out of the Big Bend.”
The flyer identifies Pacifico Energy as the developer of GW Ranch, a large-scale data center project near Fort Stockton in neighboring Pecos County. Organizers describe that development as the largest data center in the United States, although that characterization has not been independently verified.
Hyperscale data centers are large computing facilities designed to accommodate substantial processing and data storage operations, including infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
Such facilities can require significant amounts of electricity, land and cooling infrastructure. Projects powered by natural gas turbines can also raise questions about air emissions, fuel consumption and other environmental effects.
The proposed Glass Mountains facility would use gas turbines to generate electricity, according to the organizers’ flyer. Specific details about the project’s generating capacity, acreage, water requirements, construction schedule and anticipated economic impact were not provided.
The Glass Mountains are part of the distinctive landscape of northern Brewster County, an area characterized by rugged terrain, expansive ranchlands and relatively limited industrial development.
Opponents are framing the proposal as a question about the future of the Big Bend region and whether industrial-scale computing infrastructure is compatible with its environmental and cultural identity.
“Let’s protect our culture and home — we only have one chance,” the meeting announcement states.
The event is intended not only to inform residents but also to develop organized opposition to the project.
The announcement says the panel will discuss what is currently known about the development and how residents can organize to stop it.
The flyer does not identify the panelists or specify whether representatives of Pacifico Energy, Brewster County government or other public agencies have been invited to participate.
It also does not indicate whether the project has received permits, obtained regulatory approvals or entered the formal development process.
Large data center developments can generate construction employment, tax revenue and investment, but their potential benefits must be weighed against infrastructure demands and environmental impacts. The specific economic and environmental implications of the proposed Glass Mountains project remain unclear.
The public meeting comes as growing demand for artificial intelligence computing capacity drives interest in developing major data center facilities in Texas, including locations where large tracts of land and dedicated power generation may be available.
Organizers say all residents are welcome to attend the Alpine meeting.
Additional information about the opposition effort is available at NoBigBendDC.org.
Pacifico Energy’s response to the concerns raised in the announcement was not included in the materials provided.
