Project Jupiter air quality permit hearing set for October in Sunland Park
A public hearing is scheduled for October 19 in Sunland Park, New Mexico, regarding the controversial air quality permit for Project Jupiter, a data center for Oracle and OpenAI. The permit application, filed by Yucca Growth Infrastructure, LLC, details significant greenhouse gas emissions from its natural gas-powered microgrid, drawing criticism from environmental groups and state legislators who advocate for a statewide moratorium. The project also faces a setback after the Public Lands Commissioner twice denied permission for a crucial pipeline extension.
The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has scheduled a public hearing for October 19 in Sunland Park regarding the controversial air quality permit for Project Jupiter, a hyperscale data center under construction in Santa Teresa for Oracle and OpenAI. The permit, applied for by Yucca Growth Infrastructure, LLC, outlines a microgrid facility powered by natural gas and fuel cell technology to support four data centers and an office building.
Project Jupiter's permit application projects 10.1 million tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions, nearly double the entire city of Albuquerque's 2023 output, sparking widespread opposition. Critics, including local state legislators and organizations like Food & Water Watch, are calling for the project to adopt major solar power installations and are advocating for a statewide moratorium on data center development, citing concerns over agriculture, air, and water resources.
Adding to the project's challenges, Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard twice denied Energy Transfer permission to build a pipeline extension across state trust land, which is necessary to supply gas to the site. Oracle, however, criticized the hearing's delayed scheduling, arguing it risks NMED missing its statutory deadline for a decision and negatively impacts the thousands of workers currently on site, as well as the $37.4 million in tax revenue for Doña Ana County and $22.5 million for the state.
The public hearing will be held at the Sunland Park Multi-Generational Center, with an October 1 deadline for technical evidence and an October 12 deadline for rebuttal testimony. NMED's Air Quality Bureau is expected to make a final decision on the permit by late November, amidst ongoing debate and public scrutiny.