Another New Mexico county considers a moratorium on data centers
Santa Fe County leaders are considering a year-long moratorium on new data center developments to prepare land use regulations and environmental standards. This comes as Socorro County is also scheduled to vote on a temporary moratorium due to local opposition against Green Data's proposed project, raising concerns about water usage. Other areas like Bernalillo County, El Paso, and New Jersey are also implementing or proposing new data center regulations.
Santa Fe County leaders are deliberating a one-year moratorium on data center development to allow time for the establishment of comprehensive land use regulations and environmental standards. Although there are no immediate data center projects proposed in the county, officials are proactively responding to growing concerns, particularly following public backlash against "Project Jupiter" in neighboring Doña Ana County.
Meanwhile, Socorro County commissioners are set to vote on their own temporary moratorium on data centers early next month. This consideration follows strong local opposition to Green Data’s proposed 10,000-acre data center and solar array project, with residents expressing significant worries about the project's potential impact on critical groundwater resources amidst severe drought conditions in the Rio Grande area.
Broader regulatory efforts are also underway across the nation. Bernalillo County leaders in New Mexico previously approved new guidelines for data center projects in February. In Texas, El Paso city leaders have unveiled a draft plan for new data center regulations. Additionally, New Jersey Governor Mike Sherrill recently introduced a four-year, four-pillar plan aimed at mitigating the environmental and community impacts of data centers in his state. Santa Fe County is expected to hold a public hearing on its proposed moratorium in the upcoming month.