Four New Mexico lawmakers plan to propose statewide data center moratorium
Four New Mexico lawmakers plan to propose a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center development to address concerns about water and energy use, emissions, and impact on utilities. This proposal follows similar moratoriums enacted by Socorro and Santa Fe counties and comes amidst controversy surrounding Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, which would serve Oracle and OpenAI. Lawmakers argue the moratorium is necessary for the state to develop proper regulatory standards.
Four Democratic state lawmakers in New Mexico, including Reps. Micaela Lara Cadena, Angelica Rubio, Eleanor Chávez, and Sen. Carrie Hamblen, are planning to introduce legislation in the upcoming session to enact a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center development. The proposed moratorium aims to provide the state with time to establish comprehensive standards for evaluating the industry's impact on crucial resources like water and energy, as well as emissions and utility ratepayers.
The lawmakers' initiative follows similar data center moratoriums recently adopted by Socorro and Santa Fe counties. A significant catalyst for this proposal is the ongoing controversy surrounding "Project Jupiter," a massive artificial intelligence data center near Santa Teresa in Doña Ana County, which is slated to provide computing capacity for tech giants Oracle and OpenAI. Project Jupiter has faced criticism regarding its environmental footprint, particularly air pollution and climate-warming emissions, and its rapid development has raised concerns about transparency and community input.
Rep. Rubio emphasized the urgency, stating, "We are watching this industry move faster than our laws, our water systems, and our communities can keep up with." Rep. Lara Cadena criticized the speed of Project Jupiter's approval, alleging "dishonesty and deception" in the process. Opposition to Project Jupiter has gained political traction, with an opponent, Daisy Maldonado, winning a county commission primary. The New Mexico lawmakers have consulted with their counterparts in Maine, where a similar statewide data center ban was recently passed but vetoed by Governor Janet Mills.