Haaland Backs Data Center Moratorium, Calls for Protections for New Mexico’s Water and Communities
Deb Haaland, a New Mexico gubernatorial candidate, is advocating for a moratorium on new large-scale data centers. She proposes comprehensive statewide safeguards to protect the state's water, communities, energy infrastructure, and environment. This plan aims to introduce clear accountability measures for future data center development in New Mexico.
Deb Haaland, a candidate for New Mexico governor, has publicly backed a moratorium on new large-scale data center projects within the state. She proposes a comprehensive accountability plan designed to protect New Mexico's natural resources, communities, and economy from the potential adverse effects of rapid data center expansion.
Haaland's proposal calls for establishing statewide standards, including requirements for community transparency and benefits, protection against utility rate increases, and stringent water conservation measures such as mandatory closed-loop cooling systems. The plan also emphasizes prioritizing New Mexico workers for data center jobs, expanding renewable energy infrastructure for data centers, and ensuring clean air, land, and habitat protections. Furthermore, she proposes decommissioning requirements with bonds to prevent environmental liabilities, drawing parallels to orphaned oil and gas wells.
The former Interior Secretary stated that the moratorium should remain in place until the state adopts clear and transparent accountability measures for the industry. Her campaign highlighted that the initiative responds to growing concerns about the lack of oversight and the potential strain on the state's water supply and energy infrastructure, positioning New Mexico to lead in sustainable development practices.