MON: New Mexico to impose new federal food aid requirements, + More

Federal regulatory staff last week filed a protest against a proposed 17-mile natural gas pipeline, the "Green Chile Project," which aims to fuel the Project Jupiter data center in southern New Mexico. The pipeline, proposed by Dallas-based developer Energy Transfer (owner of Transwestern Pipeline Company), sought expedited approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to pipe 400,000 dekatherms of gas daily from El Paso to power plants for the data center. Energy Transfer requested construction to begin April 15 with a target completion by August. The FERC staff protest, signed by Acting Secretary Debbie-Anne Reese, cited an incomplete application, specifically a lack of confirmation from the New Mexico State Historic Preservation Office that no "historic properties" would be affected. This documentation is required under FERC regulations and the National Historic Preservation Act. Celeste Miller, acting director for media relations at FERC, stated that if issues aren't resolved within 30 days, the project won't qualify for expedited approval and will require a more detailed, project-specific certificate process, which will delay construction. The New Mexico State Land Office had already denied construction rights on state trust land. Environmental groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, and Food & Water Watch, also filed a formal challenge with FERC. Additionally, the Hold the Line Campaign, representing Doña Ana residents, sought to intervene. Jon Copeland, an organizer for Hold the Line Campaign, called FERC's staff protest "nearly unheard of." Energy Transfer's Vice President for Corporate Communications, Vicki Granado, stated the company is working with FERC to meet all requirements.