Grant County data center plan leaves key questions unanswered
Granite Renewables presented the conceptual Site Layer 1 data center proposal to the Grant County Commission, but provided few definitive details about its size, power source, purpose or water plan. Residents raised concerns about emissions, electricity, water use and transparency, while Grant County prepares to consider a data center moratorium later this month.
Granite Renewables founder Ian Marcus presented the conceptual Site Layer 1 project to the Grant County Commission on Oct. 8. The proposed development could cover about 8,000 acres near Playas in southern Grant County and include 715 megawatts of solar generation, a 715-megawatt battery system and a data center of undetermined size. Marcus said the project remained under evaluation, with interconnection and large-load power requests still pending, and could potentially include natural-gas generation.
The developer said the facility would use a closed-loop cooling system and consume less than 25 acre-feet of water annually, but acknowledged that no broader water plan or definitive operational purpose had been established. New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney has questioned the project’s community outreach and requested clearer information on emissions, equipment and public engagement before considering its air-quality permit application. Residents, including Gila Resources Information Project director Allyson Siwic, criticized the presentation as inadequate, while landowner Lawrence Hurt supported the project’s potential economic benefits. Grant County is expected to consider a data center moratorium later in October.