Residents urge city leaders to oppose rapid approval of proposed county data center, citing water and energy risks
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Summary
Multiple speakers at the Las Cruces City Council’s Sept. 2 meeting urged city officials to use their influence with county leaders to slow or block Project Jupiter, a proposed data center in southern Dona Ana County, citing groundwater, water use, and energy-sourcing concerns tied to a governor MOU and the Energy Transition Act.
Multiple residents urged the Las Cruces City Council on Sept. 2 to oppose rapid county-level action on a proposed data center project known in public comments as Project Jupiter, citing risks to groundwater, high water demand and potential fossil-fuel energy use.
Why it matters: Although the project is before the Dona Ana County Commission, speakers told council that as the county’s largest municipality Las Cruces has a role in encouraging additional review and public engagement.
Lucas Turnit, who identified himself as a District 2 resident and energy-policy director at Progress Now New Mexico, told the council the county’s three-week public-notice window was too short and said the proposed developer has a memorandum of understanding with the governor that could allow energy generation on a microgrid to be excluded from the state’s Energy Transition Act. “Because they will need interconnection with El Paso Electric … as the area's largest user of EPE electricity … we can't necessarily in good conscience use that energy, if our goal is to reduce emissions,” Turnit said.
Several other speakers echoed concerns about water use and pace of approval, and some asked the city to press the county for more time for public review. Lindley Hornsby told the council she was “surprised at how many non-county Democrat politicians are supporting that,” and asked council leaders to “use your platform and privilege, to protect our water.” Jay Choate and William Moreland also urged greater county responsiveness and public engagement on Project Jupiter.
One speaker, Jim Hurst, urged caution about blocking development and said the area cited for the project is “barren of any economic development,” that the data center would be largely self-contained and could spur jobs. Hurst said he did not believe corruption was involved and urged officials to gather full information before taking a position.
No formal city action was taken; speakers requested that the council use whatever influence it has with county commissioners and asked for more time and transparency from county decision-makers.
Ending: The council heard both opposition and support from residents; the project remains a county decision. Speakers asked Las Cruces leaders to press the county for more public engagement and to consider water, energy and long-term economic impacts before the county acts.
