In New Mexico, massive Project Jupiter data center faces criticism over water allocation

The Project Jupiter data center, a large-scale development by Oracle expected to house OpenAI, is facing significant opposition in New Mexico, primarily over its projected water consumption. U.S. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury has publicly called for an immediate inquiry into the project's long-term water usage, citing state documents that indicate the site could consume up to 2,400 acre-feet of water annually, equivalent to 782 million gallons. This amount, Stansbury argues, is enough to supply 30,000 homes or irrigate a substantial amount of green chiles, threatening local communities, agriculture, and the state's water resources.

The Congresswoman emphasized the state's responsibility to conduct due diligence, particularly given a court order to reduce Rio Grande water use. She noted the existence of over 30 protests potentially linked to the water Project Jupiter intends to access, and highlighted that the state has yet to hold public hearings or adjudicate these challenges. Furthermore, Stansbury confirmed that the State Engineer's office has not received permits for the project's long-term operational water needs.

In response to earlier criticisms regarding potential environmental impacts, Oracle had previously modified its plans. Julia Robin, Oracle’s head of infrastructure planning and sourcing, stated in July that the company abandoned an initial plan for a gas pipeline and is now pursuing a fuel cell-based power system. Robin acknowledged that Oracle is learning from public feedback and has significantly shifted its approach, although the company has not yet responded to Stansbury's latest criticisms. The project is located in the southern, rural part of New Mexico.