State Lawmakers Announce Proposed Statewide Moratorium on Data Centers
Democratic state lawmakers in New Mexico announced their intent to introduce legislation for a statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers. This proposed pause aims to allow the state to develop a framework for evaluating the industry's impacts on water, energy, emissions, and community benefits. Several local governments, including Santa Fe and Socorro counties, have already enacted their own moratoriums.
Democratic state lawmakers in New Mexico, including State Reps. Eleanor Chávez of Albuquerque, Micaela Lara Cadena from Mesilla, Angelica Rubio, and Sen. Carrie Hamblen, both of Las Cruces, have announced their intent to introduce legislation for a statewide moratorium on "large-scale" data centers. This proposed moratorium aims to halt new developments until a comprehensive state framework can be established to evaluate the industry's impact on critical resources like water and energy, as well as emissions, ratepayer costs, and overall community benefits.
The legislative effort also seeks to protect residents' data security and address a perceived "microgrid loophole" that critics argue allows data center companies to bypass the state's Energy Transition Act requirements. Rep. Rubio emphasized the urgency, stating, "New Mexico cannot keep saying yes before we understand what we are saying yes to." The lawmakers highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding "Project Jupiter," a large-scale data center in southern New Mexico facing pending litigation and accusations of deception regarding public support for air quality permits. Local governments, such as Santa Fe County and Socorro County, have already enacted their own data center moratoriums, while Raton leaders recently postponed a similar decision.