NM Supreme Court pauses Project Jupiter permits
The New Mexico Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay, pausing air quality and water use permits for Project Jupiter. This decision follows petitions filed by environmental groups like New Energy Economy and Center for Biological Diversity, which alleged due process issues and challenged a well-drilling permit. The permits will remain on pause until further court order, affecting the data center's construction and operation.
The New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously ordered a temporary stay on air quality and water use permits for Project Jupiter. This intervention follows petitions from environmental advocacy groups, specifically New Energy Economy and the Center for Biological Diversity.
New Energy Economy, led by Executive Director and Senior Attorney Mariel Nanasi, filed a petition alleging a lack of due process regarding the air permit. Separately, the Center for Biological Diversity challenged an emergency authorization from the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer that allowed a new well to be drilled for the data center's construction, stating that over 103 million gallons of water have already been pumped. The permits are now paused indefinitely until a further court order.
A public hearing for the air permit was scheduled for September 14th, but its status is now unclear. Oracle, the company behind Project Jupiter, stated its commitment to protecting New Mexico's resources and adhering to regulatory processes, emphasizing the thorough technical review and public input opportunities in the air-permitting process.