Project Jupiter open house draws packed crowd as protesters demand transparency

Project Jupiter, a proposed data center development, hosted its initial public open house and career fair at the Sunland Park Sports Complex in Sunland Park, New Mexico. The event attracted a large crowd, including residents from southern New Mexico and El Paso, who were interested in potential employment opportunities and learning more about the project.

Beatrice Fallon, Oracle’s community relations representative, stated the event's purpose was to engage directly with the community and listen to residents' feedback. Partners, including Oracle, OpenAI, Stack Infrastructure, and Bloom Energy, were present to discuss plans concerning energy, water stewardship, and construction trades.

Outside the complex, dozens of protesters gathered to demonstrate against Project Jupiter, raising significant concerns about the project's water usage, potential environmental impacts on air quality and long-term growth in the Borderland, and a perceived lack of transparency. Annie Ersinghaus, an opponent of the project, articulated the community's frustration, stating, "We still have very little information and the community was steamrolled."

While some attendees, such as recent UTEP electrical engineering graduate Eric Guzman, sought career opportunities in big tech, others, like Era Edmister, left the event still seeking specific numerical data on the project's impacts. Project Jupiter representatives committed to continued community engagement, while opponents vowed to persist in their demands for greater transparency before any final decisions are made.