Project Jupiter air quality permit process paused
The New Mexico Supreme Court has temporarily halted the air-permitting process for Project Jupiter, a controversial data center project by Oracle and OpenAI in Southern New Mexico. This legal pause follows a request from an advocacy group and comes amidst significant public opposition over the project's potential greenhouse gas emissions and concerns about the permit review process.
The New Mexico Supreme Court has issued a temporary halt to the air-permitting process for Project Jupiter, a contentious data center development in Southern New Mexico involving Oracle and OpenAI. The decision follows a request from the advocacy group New Energy Economy, whose executive director, Mariel Nanasi, emphasized that "speed, money and political power do not outrank political process" and that public transparency is crucial.
This ruling by the state's highest court comes amidst considerable public debate and protests surrounding the project, particularly concerning its environmental impact. Estimates suggest Project Jupiter could emit more greenhouse gases than the combined totals of Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe.
The air quality permit process, managed by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), has been a focal point of controversy. The NMED had previously moved up a scheduled hearing after Oracle's meeting with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Further complicating the process, numerous fraudulent public comments favoring the permit led to an overhaul of the NMED's comment portal. The Supreme Court's Sunday night decision occurred just two days after residents rallied against the project outside NMED offices in Santa Fe.