Water security concerns loom over proposed Socorro County green data center

Green Data Centers is planning to construct what could become the world's largest green data center in Socorro County, New Mexico. The multibillion-dollar facility, intended as a "new template" for the AI industry, is designed to be powered by two gigawatts of solar energy and battery storage across approximately 10,000 acres. Jason Bak, CEO of Green Data Centers, emphasized the project's potential to redefine the industry and provide economic and social benefits to the local community, including a potential partnership with New Mexico Tech for research opportunities, as noted by CFO Delilah Walsh. However, the proposal has been met with skepticism from local residents, particularly concerning water security in the drought-prone region. A resident from Magdalena, identified only as Matt, voiced worries about the data center's cooling systems and the potential for groundwater contamination from discharge. In response, Green Data Centers stated its intention to avoid local aquifers by utilizing atmospheric water generation technology to extract moisture from the air for its operations, which Bak hopes could also offer a water solution for other parts of the state. The project is currently in early planning stages, and while discussions with New Mexico Tech are ongoing, no official partnership has been finalized. New Mexico Tech is slated to host a town hall meeting on May 19 to address the proposal and community concerns.