Socorro residents push back on solar array and data center plans

New Mexico Tech has temporarily paused a controversial proposal from Canadian company Green Data Center to construct what would be the world's largest data center alongside a 10-gigawatt solar array in the La Jencia Basin. The decision by President Michael Jackson came after widespread community outrage and opposition from Socorro County residents, who deemed the proposal "shoddy" and lacking substance. Despite the hold, the community remains vigilant, as New Mexico Tech's communication left the door open for future consideration of the project.

Local residents, including ranchers, farmers, and conservationists, have united to protect their water, land, wildlife, and way of life, arguing that data centers are an "extractive, exploitive industry." They express concerns about New Mexico's severe water scarcity and the environmental impact of covering the La Jencia Basin with solar arrays, which they believe is neither "green" nor environmentally sound. Concerns also extend to increased dust storms from bladed desert land, potential health risks like valley fever, and the impacts on local infrastructure and the Rio Grande from monsoon runoff on denuded landscapes.

The Socorro County Commission has responded to the public outcry by proposing a one-year moratorium ordinance on data centers, which is scheduled for a vote on Tuesday. Cecilia Rosacker, a Socorro County farmer, highlighted community worries about water usage for construction and daily operations, noise and light pollution, and the viability of other local operations such as the Very Large Array and farming. Residents are advocating for strong, enforceable regulations to protect the state's resources and environment from corporate interests.