How many shoulda’s should it take?

Facts on Project Jupiter

·       proposed $165 billion data center & fuel cell project – Santa Teresa, NM

·       four AI hyperscale data center facilities

·       2,275 Solid Oxide Fuel Cell plant

·       water use projected 20,000 gallons/day

·       operated by Oracle with Open AI

The noise pollution from data center generators running 24/7 will affect the local 21,000 people who are predominantly Latino, working-class, and already face water insecurity and air quality issues.

Those living near existing data centers have reported 24/7 noise levels approaching 100 decibels (dB). According to the Hearing Health Foundation, sounds at or below 70dB are considered safe for our hearing.

Additionally, the Environmental & Energy Study Institute says that both low and high frequencies generate 24/7 noise and vibration often described as a near-imperceptible hum. This infrasound, which can be ‘felt’ rather than heard, is causing people living near data centers to fall sick with symptoms like headaches, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety. Complaints emphasize the non-stop persistence rather than the volume as the predominant issue. Think Abu Ghraib.

This by itself shoulda been cause enough for Doña Ana County to deny Oracle’s permit.

The proposed Solid Oxide Fuel Cell power plant will emit 8.8 million tons of CO2 every year. That’s significantly more than Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces combined! On top of that, the developers admit that Carbon Monoxide and Volatile Organic Compounds, other toxic pollutants, likely will exceed minor limits.

These impacts shoulda been considered when the Air Quality Bureau determined the air permit application was "complete."

It is estimated the Land Surface Temperature could increase by a 3.6°F average to 16.38°F maximum after operation commencement of an AI data center creating a Data Heat Island Effect. Further study indicates that AI hyperscalers’ DHIE in Spain, Mexico and Brazil extends the impact of LST up to a 6.2 mile radius surrounding these data centers. The DHIE is therefore expected to have a remarkable influence on communities and regional welfare in the future.

Do you think job promises outweigh the potential for DHIE to increase temperatures in a 6.2-mile radius around the data center where temperatures have already reached 110 ºF in June and 109 ºF in July and August?

This shoulda been a huge consideration for elected officials who approved this project, and for the Air Quality Bureau that is currently considering an air permit for Project Jupiter!

One more issue is the elephant, or in our case Elephant Butte, in the room. Just for reference, Elephant Butte is currently at a five-alarm fire equivalent, 1.4% capacity! The proposed “closed-loop” system of pipes to cool the internal computer servers would require a one-time, 10-million gallon fill-up of very high quality, pure water before it is continually recycled. Developers say the campus’ ongoing consumption would be 7.3 million gallons of water per year and they “support efficient resource use.”

Does this sound efficient to you? And where in our drought-ridden state do they propose on sourcing their water supply? Although Oracle says their cooling system will be a closed-loop, one wonders why they are sitting this new installation next to the Rio Grande?

Water alone may be the strongest shoulda factor of all!

It’s not too late for the Air Quality Bureau to consider these facts in their decision-making process. Just how many shoulda alarms will it take for them to deliver a decision that favors our New Mexico residents’ quality of life instead of Project Jupiter’s projected revenue? This will only further line these billionaires’ pockets while leaving unhealthy property owners with albatrosses around their necks!