NM counties pass data center moratoriums. What next?
Several New Mexico counties have enacted temporary data center moratoriums while officials study impacts such as noise, water use, power demand and emissions. Sierra County Commissioner Sandy Jones is urging the commission to create an expert and community panel before its 18-month moratorium expires, while opposition continues to proposed projects in the region.
Sierra County Commissioner Sandy Jones is pressing county officials to launch a formal study of data center impacts after the county enacted an 18-month moratorium in July. She proposed a panel of residents, scientists, developers and other experts, with the goal of helping commissioners determine future regulations before the moratorium expires. A decision on how to proceed could come in November.
Santa Fe, Socorro and Grant counties have also enacted moratoriums as officials consider rules addressing noise, water consumption, electricity demand and emissions. Doña Ana County is monitoring Project Jupiter in Santa Teresa, which includes four data center buildings and planned power infrastructure for Oracle and OpenAI. The project and related tax incentives have faced sustained local criticism, while a proposed data center near Hachita and a project near Spaceport America have also drawn organized opposition.