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Residents urge county to address health, transparency concerns over Project Jupiter data center
Summary
Doña Ana County commissioners heard an extended series of public comments about Project Jupiter on Jan. 13, 2026, including environmental, health and transparency concerns and criticism over a trespass notice issued to a local resident; speakers also raised questions about a $1.5 million community payment to the Boys & Girls Club.
Doña Ana County commissioners spent a large portion of their Jan. 13 meeting hearing public concerns about a proposed large data‑center development commonly called Project Jupiter.
Speakers including Nisha Micanowicz and Liz Bennett said the project’s planned generation and backup systems — including methane gas turbines and microgrids — risk worsening local air quality and public health. Micanowicz told the board the development will produce “nearly twice as much carbon dioxide emissions” as New Mexico’s in‑state electricity generation and urged the commission to engage directly with residents rather than relying on media interviews. Bennett and other residents described the project as a “generational disaster” and pressed commissioners for details on water use, permitting and regulatory compliance.
Several speakers also raised concerns about county process and civil liberties. Multiple commenters referenced a county trespass letter issued Jan. 9 to resident Derek Pacheco and asked whether the county provided prior written notice or an appeal process. Yoli Diaz said she reviewed the trespass notice and described limited detail in the letter; Dr. Earl Neeson and others warned that indefinite countywide bans without a clear appeal could raise due‑process questions.
The meeting also included debate over a $1.5 million check Project Jupiter supporters presented to the Boys & Girls Club of Las Cruces. Lucio Luttrell, interim deputy county manager, told the board staff was documenting the payment as partial fulfillment of a community benefit commitment; Commissioner Chaparro voted against the resolution recognizing that documentation and asked whether the funds had been received and cashed. Luttrell said the county’s understanding was that the Boys & Girls Club had received the check.
County staff and several commissioners acknowledged the public’s concerns. Commissioner Chaparro praised young speakers and asked for continued transparency. Commenters urged the board to hold developers to commitments on emissions, water use and community benefits; several suggested litigation or public records requests if the county’s processes were not followed. The board did not take any new regulatory action on the data‑center at the meeting.
What’s next: commissioners said they will continue to document community benefit actions (Resolution No. 2026‑09 records the $1.5 million payment). Members of the public encouraged additional hearings and legal review; no vote was taken on the underlying Project Jupiter development during the Jan. 13 meeting.
