‘Very disrespectful’: Acoma Governor criticizes data center project over use of Pueblo of Acoma name

A significant data center project, identified as Project Jupiter and under development by Yucca Growth Infrastructure in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, has drawn criticism from the Pueblo of Acoma. Governor Charles Riley expressed strong disapproval after discovering the project was using "Acoma LLC" as a development company name without the Pueblo's permission. Governor Riley highlighted that the name holds deep cultural significance, and its unauthorized use for a project that raises environmental concerns is considered "very disrespectful" and insulting to the Acoma people's values. In response to the controversy, Governor Riley published an Op-Ed in the Albuquerque Journal to publicly address the issue. He asserted that the Pueblo does not want its name associated with a project that could pose environmental risks. Yucca Growth Infrastructure later issued a statement apologizing for any offense and committed to using a different name moving forward, acknowledging they had "heard the Acoma Pueblo people and we listened." While Governor Riley welcomed the company's decision to change the name if confirmed, he reiterated the Pueblo's continued solidarity with local residents who have voiced environmental objections to the project. He urged state leaders to thoroughly evaluate the data center's potential effects on water resources, air quality, and the overall climate. The developers claim the $165 billion project will generate over 4,000 construction jobs and 1,500 on-site positions.