New Mexico Environment Department to hold hearings on Project Jupiter air quality

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has announced it will hold a public hearing regarding air quality permits for Project Jupiter, a planned data center campus in Doña Ana County. Environment Secretary James Kenney approved the hearing following a recommendation from the department's Air Quality Bureau chief, who cited "significant public interest" after receiving 7,155 public comments on the project. Kenney also confirmed an extension of the NMED's decision deadline for Acoma LLC's air quality permit applications from April 22 to July 21. Reasons for the delay include the extensive public interest, "unusually complex technical and regulatory issues," and the developer's intent to modify its application. Acoma LLC had submitted applications in November for two natural gas-fueled facilities, the "East Microgrid" and "West Microgrid," near Santa Teresa and Sunland Park. The decision to hold a hearing was also influenced by a letter from two state representatives from Doña Ana County. Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, praised the news but emphasized the need for the hearing to be held locally, in both English and Spanish, to ensure accessibility for affected residents. The date and specific location for the public hearing are yet to be determined, though it will be held within the permit-sought area.