Grant County commissioners approve data center moratorium
Grant County commissioners approved a one-year moratorium barring data center development and related infrastructure in unincorporated areas of the county. The action followed opposition to Site Layer 1 LLC’s proposed project near Hachita and Playas, with residents and advocacy groups citing environmental, water, energy and transparency concerns.
The Grant County Commission voted 4-1 to impose a one-year moratorium on establishing, building, expanding or operating data centers and dedicated supporting infrastructure in unincorporated Grant County. The moratorium, proposed by Commissioner Nancy Stephens, is scheduled to run from Nov. 21, 2026, through Nov. 21, 2027, while the county studies possible regulations.
The decision followed growing opposition to Site Layer 1 LLC’s proposed data center on Hurt Cattle Co. Ranch near Hachita and Playas. The project is being directed by Granite Renewables, whose representatives have described plans involving solar generation, battery storage and potentially natural-gas generation, while seeking a high-capacity grid connection from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association. Residents, environmental organizations and New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney criticized the developers’ limited public outreach, while ranch owner Lawrence Hurt opposed the moratorium and said the project could benefit the county economically.