Residents press Doña Ana senators for answers on Project Jupiter at Las Cruces session
Residents in New Mexico pressed Doña Ana County state senators for answers regarding Oracle's $165 billion Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa, raising concerns about health, water use, emissions, and accountability. Lawmakers are considering a moratorium on new data centers and discussed the project's updated energy plan, which includes Bloom Energy fuel cells, and the proposed Microgrid Oversight Act.
Residents of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, recently questioned four state senators — Carrie Hamblen, Joseph Cervantes, Bill Soules, and Jeff Steinborn — about Project Jupiter, a $165 billion data center development by Oracle in Santa Teresa. The listening session, held in Las Cruces, focused on concerns regarding potential health impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, energy plans, and the permitting process.
While Oracle has updated its energy plan to use Bloom Energy fuel cells, which it claims will lower emissions compared to previous plans, lawmakers and residents remain concerned. Senator Soules noted that while fuel cells are more efficient, they are not entirely clean, raising questions about carbon dioxide output and fossil fuel consumption. Senator Hamblen expressed that economic development should not exploit residents, acknowledging the need for jobs but emphasizing community well-being.
Opposition to Project Jupiter has been ongoing for months, with calls for transparency and accountability. Some residents advocated for a statewide moratorium on new data center projects. Senator Hamblen confirmed she is working on a proposal for such a moratorium, though details on how it would affect already-under-construction projects like Jupiter are still being ironed out. Senator Steinborn also highlighted the Microgrid Oversight Act, a bill aimed at requiring renewable energy for microgrids and protecting utility customers, which he plans to reintroduce.
Lawmakers have committed to forwarding the questions from the listening session to relevant state departments, with the goal of providing a comprehensive document of answers to the community.