Opposition against proposed data center continues at first NMT town hall
New Mexico Tech (NMT) hosted its first town hall on a proposed data center project, where over 200 attendees expressed strong opposition regarding environmental impact, water, and electricity rates. Socorro County commissioners are expected to vote on a one-year moratorium, while NMT emphasized no final decisions have been made and further analysis is required.
New Mexico Tech (NMT) held its initial town hall meeting regarding a proposed data center project at the Macey Center, attracting more than 200 community members. NMT President Michael Jackson and Green Data CEO Jason Bak addressed numerous concerns from the audience, which largely voiced strong opposition to the project.
Residents raised issues spanning water usage, electricity rate increases, transparency, potential interference with Very Large Array operations, indigenous rights, environmental impacts, and fire risks. Val Thomas, a Socorro resident, warned NMT that the community is prepared to pursue legal action if the project proceeds. Yellowstone actor Forrie Smith also spoke against the data center, inviting protestors to pose for photos to share on his social media.
Jackson clarified that no final decision or binding agreement has been reached, stating that the process will be lengthy, with no final decisions expected until spring of next year. He outlined multiple areas of analysis required, including environmental impact, energy demand, and regulatory approvals. Bak, despite being met with boos, acknowledged the skepticism and committed to providing more detailed information at future meetings, asserting that his company's approach aims for a