Inform Socorro organizes petition calling for moratorium on proposed data center

A newly established community group, Inform Socorro, is actively campaigning for increased scrutiny regarding a proposed Green Data Center in Socorro County, New Mexico. The grassroots organization has called on local officials, specifically county commissioners, to implement a temporary moratorium on the project, citing significant concerns over transparency and the potential negative impact on the region's land, water resources, and utilities. Cecilia Rosacker, executive director of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust (RGALT) and a longtime Socorro resident, emphasized the need to protect the area's unique and increasingly rare environmental landscape. She highlighted that Socorro County's position within the fragile Middle Rio Grande means any development there could affect downstream irrigators and communities. Inform Socorro has organized a public response, including a recent town hall meeting and the launch of an online petition. The petition, which aims to gather at least 3,000 signatures from Socorro and surrounding counties, explicitly asks commissioners to halt the data center's progress until comprehensive regulations are developed to address its environmental and community impacts. Rosacker also noted that RGALT is collaborating with various conservation groups and policy advocates across New Mexico who are monitoring similar statewide developments, underscoring that while it's a local issue, it has broader implications. The group's immediate objective is to secure a temporary pause on the project, with plans for additional public meetings and informational sessions if a moratorium is enacted.