New Mexico and El Paso Spent Millions on Climate Plans. Three New Data Centers Could Undo Them.
Three large data center projects near El Paso, including Oracle’s Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, Meta’s facility in El Paso and a proposed Fort Bliss project, could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and electricity demand. Critics say the projects were not accounted for in regional climate plans, while officials and regulators face legal challenges, permitting decisions and growing pressure to address water, pollution and grid impacts.
Oracle’s Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, Meta’s data center in El Paso and a third facility under negotiation at Fort Bliss are advancing in the same cross-border population center. Their associated power plants could produce millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, while also increasing electricity demand and affecting air quality and water resources. Oracle says Project Jupiter will create jobs and eventually reach net-zero emissions, while Meta and other officials have pointed to compliance with existing standards and planned clean-energy offsets.
The projects expose regulatory gaps between New Mexico and Texas, whose climate and emissions rules differ. New Mexico state Rep. Sarah Silva, climatologist Dave DuBois and other critics warn that the facilities could undermine costly climate-planning efforts, while Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have shifted toward addressing environmental, infrastructure and utility concerns. Lawsuits have delayed Project Jupiter’s air-permit process, although the New Mexico Supreme Court lifted a stay, and El Paso Electric is awaiting Texas approval for the power plant serving Meta’s facility. Abbott has also urged new rules on data center water use, electricity costs and infrastructure payments.