Project Jupiter faces legal and community opposition in New Mexico

Project Jupiter, a massive data center development in New Mexico, is facing intensifying scrutiny regarding its environmental impact and legal procedures. During a recent legislative listening session hosted by State Senator Carrie Hamblen, nearly 400 community members expressed concerns regarding transparency, water consumption, and the project's impact on local resources.

While Oracle has announced a partnership with Arable intended to conserve water during operations, community members have raised questions about water usage during the construction phase. Specifically, reports indicated that an emergency well drilled for the project used 227-acre feet of water.

Simultaneously, the advocacy group New Energy Economy has filed an emergency writ with the New Mexico Supreme Court. The group is requesting that the state Supreme Court table the air quality permit proceedings for Project Jupiter, alleging violations of due process. The filing describes the current proceedings as a ‘trial by ambush’ and cites recent decisions by a hearing officer that denied the discovery process, which would have allowed opponents to examine evidence regarding emissions and the scalability of the project's proposed fuel cell technology.