Developer plans 'world’s largest' green data center in Socorro

Jason Bak, CEO of Green Data Centers, is proposing the development of what he calls the "world's largest" green data center in Socorro, New Mexico. The ambitious project, presented to the Socorro Electric Co-op Board, aims to generate 2 gigawatts of baseload power, deliver 100 megawatts per month, include battery storage for 24/7 operation, and feature a water-neutral design using atmospheric water generation. This new venture follows Bak's previous unsuccessful attempt to establish a solar array manufacturing facility and Bitcoin mining operation in Murphysboro, Illinois, with his former company, Solar Alliance. Murphysboro Mayor Will Stephens expressed skepticism regarding Bak's promises, citing unfulfilled commitments and property maintenance issues from the past project. Bak, however, attributes the Murphysboro failure to slow utility interconnection by Ameren and asserts that the experience helped him refine his focus on larger renewable energy projects. The proposed Socorro data center comes at a time when communities are increasingly concerned about data centers' resource consumption. New Mexico has seen opposition to other large data center projects, such as "Project Jupiter" by Oracle and OpenAI, over water use and pollution concerns. The New Mexico Legislature has also passed a bill regulating data centers, enforcing renewable energy standards and protecting consumer rates. Bak emphasizes his company's commitment to designs with minimal environmental impact and plans for extensive community engagement to ensure the Socorro project's success, highlighting New Mexico Tech as a potential partner for vetting the design.