New Mexico Project Jupiter data center developers announce new plans for generating power

The developers of Project Jupiter, a significant data center campus for OpenAI and Oracle under construction in Southern New Mexico's Doña Ana County, have unveiled revised plans for its power generation. Initially slated to use gas turbines and diesel generators, the project will now incorporate a microgrid powered by fuel cells from Bloom Energy. This shift is intended to "dramatically reduce water use and protect local air quality," according to a joint announcement from Oracle and BorderPlex Digital Assets. The new microgrid proposal, detailed in a notice of air quality permit application, is projected to emit 10 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, representing a nearly 30% reduction from the previous plan's 14 million tons per year. Despite this decrease, critics, including Kacey Hovden, a staff attorney with the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, contend that these figures remain "exceedingly high." Hovden is actively involved in litigation against Doña Ana County officials concerning Project Jupiter. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) had previously deferred its decision on air quality permits for the initial gas plant plans until July. Developers now anticipate filing a new application with NMED's Air Quality Bureau. The project's development has also seen an anonymous, out-of-state group face a lawsuit from the New Mexico State Ethics Commission for allegedly violating the state Lobbyist Regulation Act in connection with a pro-gas plant advertising campaign.