Opposition mounts for vote on proposed data center

A group of concerned citizens in Doña Ana County held a press conference on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, calling for the Doña Ana County Commissioners to postpone the commission’s vote on the $165 billion data center.

But local citizens are not the only ones asking the county to slow down the process.  On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the City of Sunland Park announced that it is formally requesting county commissioners to delay its vote on the $165 billion Industrial Revenue Bond called Project Jupiter.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the future of Project Jupiter, the proposed data center to be built in Santa Teresa, on Friday, September 19, 2025. Arturo Uribe, one of the organizers of the press conference, said the grassroots group is not against economic growth and is nonpartisan.

But, they want the county to take more time and engage in a transparent process before the commission makes such a large decision on approving a project of this scale.

“I don’t understand how they can be making this decision in the time frame the community has learned about with the lack of information out there,” Uribe said.

Uribe said he believes there are residents living in Doña Ana County who are unaware of the project.

Project Jupiter officials have said at previous meetings that the governor’s office issued a memorandum of understanding earlier in the year about a data center but county officials didn’t announce Project Jupiter to the public until late August. Since then, county commissioners and company officials held a series of meetings around the county to discuss the data center, proposed to be built at the Borderplex in Santa Teresa. While some members of the public have spoken in favor of the proposed $165 billion proposed project, the majority of attendees have expressed opposition or concern about how fast the project is moving toward a vote.

Some of the concerns include how much water a large data center would use. Company officials said at meetings that a closed loop system would be implemented so that the data center would not require significant amounts of water.

One of the Sunland Park’s concerns is also the amount of water required to build and operate the project’s four data centers.

“We are right next door, so we have to ask, where is that water coming from?” Sunland Park Mayor Javier Perea said. “This and a host of other issues should be addressed to ensure quality of life for our current residents.”

Perea said he is also concerned about farmers in the area and how Project Jupiter might impact their water usage.

Luce Rubio, communications coordinator for economic development for the county, said the county has "a lot of water.

"Hundreds to thousands of years of supply just in Doña Ana County. This has been studied by the State Engineer, by New Mexico State University, and by NM Tech.  It just costs a little more, less than a penny per gallon, to ensure it is clean and safe," she said.

Rubio said that farmers "might have to become more reliant on pumping rather than using EBID ditches.

"But the aquifers may be able to serve as the storage and exchange point for the water. This is still being explored to ensure long-term water for all constituents," she said.

Perea said the City of Sunland Park has not taken a position for or against the project. But the city needs “adequate time to study the massive project before making a determination.”

Rubio said the County values collaboration with all local governments and recognizes the importance of the potential impacts of this project for the region.

"The scheduled vote follows public engagement to ensure the project reflects community input. Should this project be approved, the County is committed to ensuring substantial progress in water quality, quantity and safety, along with various other key investments outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding," she said.

Other concerns for the City of Sunland Park include the strain on roads and truck routes passing through Sunland Park, potential pressure on the housing market and added demand on police, fire and emergency services.

Rubio said the county is competing with other states for the potential project.

"Project Jupiter presents an opportunity for growth and infrastructure progress throughout the County. It is also an opportunity to attract new businesses or encourage expansion of current companies.  It can promote economic development and job creation in related fields throughout the region. Plus, it enhances Doña Ana County’s position as a center of commerce, especially in artificial intelligence and hyperscale technology," she said.

But Uribe said he is disappointed with the way county commissioners are rushing to a vote.

“We need leadership that listens and respects who they work for. All these elected officials work for us and I think they forgot that,” he said.