Socorro County commissioners OK one-year data center moratorium
Socorro County commissioners unanimously voted to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development following the stalling of a controversial proposed data center by New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. The county will also establish a committee to evaluate potential regulations during this period. The move comes amid growing local opposition to data centers due to concerns over water, power use, and environmental impacts.
Socorro County commissioners have unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data center development and supporting infrastructure, making it the first such local moratorium in New Mexico. This decision follows the recent withdrawal of a controversial data center proposal by the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech), which had faced significant opposition from Socorro and Magdalena residents.
The university's president, Michael Jackson, stated that New Mexico Tech would not proceed with the project due to insufficient contiguous land parcels suitable for a development of that size. Developer Jason Bak of Green Data Centers, who was collaborating with New Mexico Tech, still expressed interest in bringing an "acceptable" proposal to Socorro County, emphasizing the project's potential to be powered by solar energy and use a closed-loop cooling system.
The moratorium also establishes a "blue-ribbon" committee composed of experts and policymakers to study and evaluate potential regulations for data centers. Speakers at the Tuesday meeting supported the moratorium, with some advocating for its extension to include other industrial projects. The county's action reflects a broader trend of local and state governments grappling with the rapid growth of hyperscale data centers and associated concerns about water and power consumption, emissions, and utility bill impacts.