Deb Haaland proposes New Mexico data center moratorium

New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland has announced her support for a statewide moratorium on new large-scale data center projects. Haaland stated she would sign an executive order on her first day in office to pause development until the state establishes clear accountability measures and protections for natural resources and local communities.

Haaland’s proposed framework includes eight key areas of protection, such as requiring developers to engage in transparent community discussions, ending non-disclosure agreements, and ensuring formal Tribal consultation. To protect residents from rising utility costs, the plan mandates that data centers develop their own renewable energy infrastructure so that energy expenses are not passed on to local citizens.

Republican candidate Gregg Hull has criticized the proposal, arguing that local governments should retain the authority to decide on data center bans or approvals. Additionally, Haaland’s campaign has faced scrutiny regarding donations from entities associated with Project Jupiter, including a $12,400 contribution from Oracle. When questioned about these ties, Haaland noted that elections are expensive and did not provide a direct answer regarding the fairness of future accountability processes.