Protest filed against Green Chile Pipeline in southern New Mexico | State | rdrnews.com

The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Center for Biological Diversity, and Food & Water Watch have formally protested to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding the Transwestern Pipeline Company's Green Chile Pipeline project. The 17-mile pipeline in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, is designed to fuel a new power plant that would serve the proposed 'Project Jupiter' data center. The environmental organizations argue that FERC should not approve the pipeline using a 'blanket certificate,' which fast-tracks minor projects, but instead must conduct a full review under section 7 of the National Gas Act, citing significant environmental risks and the project being contrary to public interest. Camilla Feibelman, director of the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, emphasized the potential for disaster if the pipeline is approved without thorough review and urged FERC to prevent polluting industries from circumventing regulations. The protest highlights that the pipeline's exact route and environmental impacts are currently unknown, especially after the New Mexico State Land Office denied Transwestern's application to cross state land in March, forcing a reroute. The groups contend that any increase in construction costs due to the reroute could disqualify the project for a blanket certificate review.