Judge allows lawsuit to move forward against Project Jupiter

A New Mexico judge has delivered a partial victory to the New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMECLC) by allowing its lawsuit against "Project Jupiter," a large AI data center in Doña Ana County, to move forward. The controversial development, located near Santa Teresa, secured funding, incentives, and approval from the Doña Ana County Commission. The NMECLC argues that the data center's construction will negatively impact local soil, consume excessive water, and contribute to emissions. Earlier this month, the Doña Ana County Commission, along with companies Stack Infrastructure and Oracle, attempted to halt the lawsuit. However, the judge ruled in favor of the NMECLC, ordering the county commission to release key documents. The lawsuit asserts that the county approved Project Jupiter without thoroughly assessing its environmental and water consequences. While the judge acknowledged potential negative community impacts, the ordinance allowing the project was not stayed, meaning construction is permitted to continue. Proponents of the project previously stated it would create hundreds of electrical jobs and provide long-term employment opportunities for locals.