Santa Fe County approves 18-month moratorium on data center development
The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on data center development, including a one-megawatt regulatory threshold. This proactive measure aims to allow the county to develop permanent standards and assess potential environmental and electrical grid impacts before any projects are proposed. The decision was influenced by public input and national trends in data center regulation.
The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners unanimously enacted an 18-month moratorium on data center development, setting a regulatory threshold of one megawatt. The ordinance, initially proposed by Commissioners Lisa Cacari Stone and Hank Hughes for 12 months with a 100-megawatt threshold, was broadened following public input.
According to the county, the lower one-megawatt threshold, roughly equivalent to the electricity use of 1,000 homes, means more data center proposals will undergo county review while permanent standards are developed. The Commission also adopted amendments to strengthen environmental justice and cumulative-impact protections, add monitoring requirements, and mandate staff reports on progress during the moratorium.
While Santa Fe County currently has no data centers proposed, commissioners moved proactively to evaluate environmental impacts, assess electrical demand, establish infrastructure and mitigation requirements, and enhance community involvement. This action aligns with a nationwide trend of localities addressing data center development, referencing concerns in Doña Ana County, Socorro, and Raton.