New Mexico environment secretary criticizes developers of proposed Grant County data center
New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney criticized the developers of a proposed data center in Grant County for failing to engage with local residents and regulators. The project faces significant community opposition, and Grant County commissioners are scheduled to vote on a data center moratorium on Oct. 22.
New Mexico Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney reprimanded Site Layer 1, LLC and Granite Renewables over their limited community outreach regarding a proposed data center in Grant County. Kenney said the developers must meet with the Environment Department's Air Quality Bureau and provide a detailed project description and transparent emissions calculations before submitting a formal application.
Residents learned of the project through a legal notice in the Silver City Daily Press. The facility could consume roughly 2.3 million cubic feet of natural gas per hour and produce annual carbon emissions equivalent to those from about 282,600 cars. Community opposition is growing, while Grant County commissioners are scheduled to vote on a proposed data center moratorium on Oct. 22. Developer Blake Marcus said representatives had met virtually with Grant and Hidalgo County officials, though county commissioners said they had not been contacted as of a Sept. 24 meeting.