New Mexico activists protest Oracle's Project Jupiter data center

Activists and students in New Mexico have organized statewide protests against Oracle’s proposed multi-billion-dollar data center, known as Project Jupiter, in Doña Ana County. Organized by Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) and the “Stop Project Jupiter” coalition, demonstrators held walkouts at the University of New Mexico and rallies at New Mexico State University.

Protesters expressed concerns regarding the environmental impact of resource-intensive artificial intelligence infrastructure, specifically citing threats to air quality and water security in the Chihuahuan Desert. Additionally, students raised concerns about the inconsistent use of AI in classrooms and its potential to undermine human creativity. The movement also opposes the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026, introduced by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, which critics claim could fast-track data centers while rolling back environmental policies and undermining tribal sovereignty.

In a statement, Oracle expressed commitment to developing the project responsibly, noting that the company replaced gas turbine designs with Bloom Energy fuel cells to reduce pollutants and minimize water use in alignment with state clean energy goals.