Spaceport America discloses data center talks amid community concerns
Spaceport America has confirmed ongoing discussions with Green Data since 2021 regarding a potential data center project in Sierra County, New Mexico. This news follows a paused project in Socorro and has prompted Sierra County residents to advocate for a moratorium, while a sublease application remains under review by the State Land Office due to environmental concerns. State lawmakers are also vowing to pursue a statewide moratorium on data center development in 2027.
Spaceport America, a state-owned facility in Sierra County, New Mexico, has confirmed it has been in discussions since 2021 with developer Green Data regarding a potential data center project. This disclosure follows the release of public documents by Sierra County resident Wil Troup and comes after Green Data paused a separate solar-powered data center proposal in neighboring Socorro County earlier this summer due to land complications and community concerns.
The proposed Spaceport America project, which officials emphasize is not a relocation of the Socorro proposal, entails a sublease of 21 acres, with a potential for 30 additional acres within the spaceport's horizontal launch area. Spaceport America Director Scott McLaughlin submitted a sublease application to the State Land Office on behalf of Green Data Center developer Aetherion Inc., seeking $176,400 annually. However, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard expressed serious concerns about the strain data centers place on water and natural resources, stating any project must include robust environmental safeguards and provide clear community benefits. The application remains under review.
In response to these developments and the earlier Socorro project, which led Socorro County commissioners to enact a one-year moratorium on data center development, Sierra County residents have organized as Project Consequences to advocate for a similar local moratorium. Additionally, a group of state lawmakers has pledged to pursue a statewide moratorium on data centers in 2027. The current proposal for Spaceport America's data center estimates an initial power demand of 4 megawatts and an annual water usage of 15,300 gallons for a closed-loop cooling system, with Green Data aiming to offset grid electricity purchases with on-site solar generation and battery storage.