New Mexico Dem governor nominee Haaland announces data center moratorium executive order if elected
Deb Haaland, New Mexico's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, announced that if elected, she would immediately sign an executive order for a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data centers. This pause would allow the Legislature to establish guidelines requiring developers to build renewable energy infrastructure, use closed-loop cooling systems, prioritize local union jobs, and adhere to environmental standards. Haaland defended taking donations from Oracle, a company involved in a controversial data center project, by stating her commitment to accountability regardless of campaign contributions.
Deb Haaland, New Mexico
’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former U.S. Interior secretary, declared her intention to enact an immediate executive order for a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center proposals if elected governor. The proposed pause would allow the state Legislature to develop comprehensive guidelines for data center development, addressing increasing public and local government concerns. Haaland outlined several key requirements she hopes to see included in future legislation, such as banning non-disclosure agreements, mandating developers build their own renewable energy infrastructure, requiring closed-loop cooling systems, prioritizing local union jobs, ensuring compliance with state clean-energy goals, and imposing high standards for light pollution and noise. Developers would need to exceed these standards to qualify for state business incentives.
Speaking at a press conference at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, Haaland emphasized her commitment to establishing clear "guardrails" to protect New Mexico
’s natural resources while still being "open for business." She also addressed campaign donations from Oracle, a company associated with the controversial Project Jupiter data center in Doña Ana County, asserting her ability to hold industry leaders accountable despite financial contributions.
The announcement sparked responses from other political figures. The state House Democratic Caucus supported the initiative, stating that "no industry should have 'free rein in our state'" and highlighting their ongoing efforts to draft legislation for the 2027 session to address data center concerns, including clean water, affordable utilities, and union jobs. Conversely, Gregg Hull, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, criticized the proposed moratorium, arguing it would signal that "New Mexico is closed for business." Hull advocated for fixing "guardrails" rather than shutting down an entire industry, emphasizing responsible siting, accountability for water and energy use, and community input driven by local infrastructure capacity.