New Mexico Regulators to Hold Public Hearing on Project Jupiter Data Center Air Quality Permit Amid Misuse of Public Comments Allegations
The New Mexico Environment Department will hold a public hearing for Project Jupiter's air quality permit in Doña Ana County, a controversial data center developed by Oracle and OpenAI. This decision follows significant public interest and allegations that names of residents and elected officials were fraudulently used on supportive public comments, leading to a request for an Attorney General investigation. The permit application is for a microgrid using fuel cells, replacing earlier plans for natural gas plants.
The New Mexico Environment Department has scheduled a public hearing for the controversial Project Jupiter data center's air quality permit application. The project, a joint venture between Oracle and OpenAI, is under construction in Doña Ana County and has faced scrutiny. The hearing was ordered by Environment Department Secretary James Kenney following high public interest and numerous complaints regarding the fraudulent use of residents' and elected officials' names on supportive public comments submitted for the permit.
The air quality permit in question is for a microgrid that would utilize fuel cells as an energy source, replacing an earlier proposal by developer Yucca Growth Infrastructure to build natural gas plants. Several public officials, including State Representative Cristina Parajón and Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, reported that their names and official email addresses were used without their consent to submit comments advocating for the permit's approval. Darien Fernandez of the Taos Town Council also reported a similar misuse of his name.
Representative Parajón has formally contacted the New Mexico Department of Justice, requesting the Attorney General to initiate an investigation into the alleged impersonation of government officials and misuse of public comment processes. The Environment Department confirmed it removed the fraudulent comments after being alerted. This development signifies an ongoing legal and opposition challenge to the Project Jupiter data center's development in New Mexico.