Environmental justice raised over data centers targeting rural NM

The controversial Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa, Doña Ana County, New Mexico, is facing significant environmental justice concerns due to its projected high water and energy consumption. The 3 million square-foot facility, being developed by STACK Infrastructure, was initially delayed by pipeline permitting issues but was fast-tracked after the federal Bureau of Land Management granted expedited approval for a natural gas pipeline. The Doña Ana County Commission subsequently approved the roughly 20-mile pipeline, with a completion date set for August 2026.

Ean Tafoya, vice president of state programs for the advocacy group GreenLatinos, highlighted that communities often oppose data centers, particularly those serving artificial intelligence developers, because they are frequently sited in areas already burdened by poor health and economic disparities. He emphasized the substantial emissions and the comparison of the data center's energy needs to an unregulated power plant. GreenLatinos advocates for states to adopt a high bar for regulating AI data centers, promoting community protection, transparency, and public input, and is active in similar efforts in Colorado, Illinois, and Texas.

Tafoya specifically pointed to the project's intensive water demands, noting that large AI data centers can use up to 5 million gallons daily, equivalent to a town of 50,000, which is particularly concerning given New Mexico's two-decade drought. He questioned the prioritization of such projects over local water conservation efforts. While GreenLatinos does not oppose data centers outright, they seek to ensure state leaders acknowledge and address the risks. The article also mentions that Illinois lawmakers have proposed stricter regulations for data centers, including water planning, pollution controls, and public hearings, whereas Colorado's recent legislative session ended without advancing similar regulatory changes.