This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
Fabens Solar Farm Breaks Ground
El Paso Electric this week broke ground on a 1,000-acre solar farm at the southeastern edge of El Paso County, a few miles from Cattleman’s Steakhouse. The solar farm in Fabens will send power to tens of thousands of homes and businesses across the Borderland after it’s completed in the fall of 2025. The 150-megawatt facility – named Felina after the woman in Marty Robbins’ famed 1959 Old West ballad “El Paso” – will be the largest solar farm from which EPE receives power. The utility estimates it will cost around $233 million to develop. The power company’s recently-completed 228-megawatt natural gas turbine cost just under $207 million.
One-third of the incoming solar farm will be dedicated to providing electricity to business customers who can essentially rent panels at the solar farm and get credited on their monthly bill based on how much their panels produce – similar to EPE’s community solar program for residential customers.
See also: El Paso Electric is helping New Mexican customers buy electric vehicles. Is El Paso next?
The Felina facility is part of the utility’s goal to rely more on renewable energy. El Paso Electric’s solar farms had mostly been small pilot projects until the utility in 2023 unveiled the 120-megawatt Buena Vista solar farm near Chaparral, New Mexico. EPE also has at least three other major solar farms under construction that will start producing electricity within the next couple of years.
City to Require Candidate Campaign Disclosures
The El Paso City Council on Tuesday voted to amend its ethics ordinance to require all candidates running for city office to disclose campaign contributions above $500 to the city. Candidates for elected office in Texas must already report campaign contributions in scheduled campaign finance reports to the Texas Secretary of State ahead of elections.
Related: What’s the difference between a primary and general election? 5 things to know
But under the city’s amended ordinance, candidates will also have to report contributions above $500 listing the donor to the City Clerk’s Office for notation on council consent agendas — the same way city elected officials are required to report contributions. The city’s Ethics Review Commission recommended against the change, citing the existing state reporting requirement.
The council voted 5 to 1 on the amendment. City Rep. Cassandra Hernandez abstained; city Rep. Joe Molinar voted against the change. City Rep. Isabel Salcido was not at the meeting.
Five City Council seats are up for election in November, including the mayor and city representatives in Districts 2, 3, 4 and 7. Two candidates – businessman Renard Johnson and Hernandez – have announced their run for mayor.
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger to Open West Side Center
El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank has acquired a 14.7-acre parcel on the West Side for a new food distribution and operations center. The land will house various resources, including a warehouse for food storage, food processing and distribution, and a volunteer center, the food bank said in a news release. The center is expected to be fully operational within three years.
The Texas Department of Agriculture found that parts of the West Side lack support from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, with areas like Canutillo, Nuway and Vinton at high risk, along with regions like Westway, the food bank said.
U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso, secured $800,000 for the project through the Community Project Funding process, the release states. The estimated total cost for the project was not provided, but the organization is seeking donations to complete it.
Disclosure: El Paso Matters CEO Robert Moore serves on the board of El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank. The news organization’s policy on editorial independence can be found here.
