New Mexico Tech axes data center plan ahead of Socorro County vote on moratorium
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology has canceled its plans to build a large data center with Green Data Centers, citing insufficient contiguous land. This decision comes just before Socorro County commissioners are set to vote on a one-year data center moratorium, following significant public opposition to the project.
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology President Michael Jackson announced the university would not pursue plans to build a "massive scale" data center with Green Data Centers. The decision, made a week before Socorro County commissioners are set to vote on a one-year data center moratorium, was attributed to the university's lack of sufficient contiguous, undeveloped land required for the project. Jackson noted that only "less than one-half" of the necessary acreage was available, and further evaluation would require significant time and third-party assessment.
The halt to the project was a mutual agreement between New Mexico Tech and the developer, as expressed by Jackson, who stated they would "not to renew or extend the initial Letter of Intent framework at this time." The announcement follows intense public scrutiny and opposition, including "scathing criticism" and "shouting" from residents at a town hall on May 19. Concerns had previously been raised regarding the project's water usage, with developer Jason Bak having proposed atmospheric water generation as a solution.
Socorro County commissioners are scheduled to discuss the proposed data center moratorium on June 9, as similar regulations are being considered in other Western communities.