Project Jupiter Hearing Officer Recuses Himself as Legal Challenges Continue
The hearing officer for Project Jupiter's air permit proceedings recused himself following allegations of bias, adding to the legal challenges facing the proposed data center. This comes after the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on parts of the project's permitting and water pumping. Project Jupiter remains on hold due to ongoing legal and administrative proceedings.
The permitting process for Project Jupiter, a proposed large-scale data center in southern New Mexico, has faced a new setback. The hearing officer overseeing the project's air permit proceedings recused himself after the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a motion alleging bias.
This recusal follows a temporary stay issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court, which halted portions of the project's permitting and water pumping activities. The court is currently reviewing a petition from the clean energy advocacy group New Energy Economy. Opponents of Project Jupiter continue to voice concerns about its potential impact on water resources, energy consumption, and the environment.
With multiple legal and administrative proceedings underway, the project remains on hold, and further court hearings are scheduled.