The Data Center Debate Taking Over Native American Tribes
The development of data centers has become a key debate among Native American leaders running for office across several US states, with candidates addressing environmental and economic concerns. In New Mexico, gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland has shifted to support a moratorium on new data center development, facing scrutiny over campaign donations and ongoing legal challenges to Project Jupiter, whose permits are currently paused by the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The debate over data center development is a significant issue for Native American tribes and leaders in the current campaign season, impacting candidates across multiple states. Gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland of New Mexico, House candidate Sharice Davids of Kansas, and Senate candidates Mary Peltola of Alaska and Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota are all being pressed to articulate their stances.
Peggy Flanagan, a DFL primary winner for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota, has forcefully spoken against uncontrolled AI, framing it as an “existential threat.” This aligns with her past criticism of ties to the crypto industry. Sharice Davids, a Kansas candidate, has taken a pragmatic approach, stating that data centers should not proceed if they increase electricity costs, waste water, or burden communities. She also met with the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, which opposed a rollback of Section 106.
In New Mexico, Deb Haaland initially said she lacked the power to stop the state's largest data center project, Project Jupiter in Los Lunas. However, following a report of campaign donations from Oracle and Clayco, the project's developers, and a circulating climate justice petition, Haaland's campaign now supports a moratorium on new data center development until “strong, reliable guardrails” are in place. This shift comes as two of Project Jupiter's permits have been paused by the New Mexico Supreme Court, and Santa Fe and Socorro Counties have already enacted data center moratoriums.
Meanwhile, Mary Peltola of Alaska defers to local support for data centers, provided they don't strain the power grid, contrasting with her opponent, Sen. Dan Sullivan, who advocates for bringing data centers to military installations. This debate coincides with proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which would weaken tribal consultation rights regarding development, a move opposed by over 700 organizations including Native Nations.