Socorro unites: Concerns rise over data center project

Residents of Socorro, New Mexico, gathered at the Capitol Bar to raise serious concerns regarding a proposed data center project in collaboration with New Mexico Tech. The project, planned for ten thousand acres west of M Mountain and north of Highway 60, has sparked widespread community mobilization. Local organizer Joanna DeBrine led the meeting, emphasizing the need for community members to attend a series of upcoming public forums, including those with the county commission and the New Mexico Tech Board of Regents. DeBrine highlighted the lack of comprehensive information about the project and the serious questions it raises, urging residents to show up en masse to demand answers and ensure their concerns are addressed. Major concerns center on the data center's potential environmental impact, particularly regarding water resources. Cecilia Rosacker, executive director of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust, expressed doubts about the company's claims of harvesting sufficient water from the atmosphere, noting that current technology yields far less than required. Hydrologist Fred Phillips, professor emeritus at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, warned that groundwater extraction would likely be necessary, straining local aquifers. Former State Representative Tara Jaramillo also raised alarms about the project's potential impact on the Water Canyon Paleoindian Site and invoked the historical context of "downwinders," cautioning against exploitation of the community. Additional questions were raised about the project's integration with existing energy infrastructure, the absence of an environmental impact statement, and the potential negative effects of warm water discharge. Local rancher Vanetta Perry voiced concerns about the project's proximity to family land in the La Jencia Basin. In response, organizers have begun forming committees for outreach, research, media engagement, and political advocacy, with an online petition actively circulating to raise awareness.