Grant County approves one-year data center moratorium

The Grant County Commission has approved a one-year moratorium on the development of data centers and their supporting infrastructure within unincorporated areas of the county. The ordinance passed with a 4-1 vote, with Commissioner Thomas Shelley being the sole dissenting member.

The moratorium, which is scheduled to run from November 21, 2026, to November 21, 2027, prohibits the establishment, construction, expansion, or operation of data centers. It also covers infrastructure built primarily to serve such facilities, including dedicated solar, gas, or battery power, water supply systems, substations, and transmission lines.

The decision follows public concern regarding the scale of the proposed Site Layer 1 project, a solar and natural gas-powered data center envisioned for the southern end of the county. During the pause, the commission intends to study how to regulate these facilities and assess their long-term impact on local resources. The move aligns with a broader legislative push for a statewide pause on data center development in New Mexico.