Google says company is ‘exploring’ a potential data center in rural New Mexico county
Google is exploring the development of a potential data center in Lea County, New Mexico. The company has launched a website to engage the community while many project details remain outstanding. Lea County has proactively adopted specific guidelines for data center developments, and a statewide moratorium on data centers is also being proposed by lawmakers.
Google has announced it is "exploring" a potential data center development in Lea County, New Mexico, a region known for its oil-rich Permian Basin. The tech giant launched a project-specific website, leacountydatacenter.com, to engage with the community and gather feedback on development priorities, including economic opportunities, education, and water stewardship.
The company's initial disclosures indicate that construction will involve an average daily water use of over 900,000 gallons, and its energy source is expected to be a mix of solar, wind, batteries, and gas-powered resources. Google anticipates creating hundreds of long-term operational jobs and thousands of construction jobs.
Tyson Pierce, chair of the Lea County Board of County Commissioners, confirmed that details regarding the project's scale are still limited. Recognizing potential controversies, especially concerning water insecurity in the area, the Lea County commission unanimously adopted a resolution in February. These guidelines include requirements that data centers using the public utility grid cannot raise resident rates, operators must publish annual water use reports detailing specific usage, and evaporative cooling methods are prohibited.
The announcement comes as several New Mexico state lawmakers plan to propose a statewide data center moratorium in the upcoming legislative session. This follows similar moratoria adopted by other New Mexico counties amid a surge in data center development proposals across the state.