Project Jupiter and Data Centers in New Mexico

August 2, 2026  

In June, NPR reported about concerns New Mexicans are raising about Project Jupiter, a data center installation planned in southern New Mexico in the Chihuahuan Desert and other potential sites across New Mexico. Throughout the US, data centers have been breaking ground, raising concerns about the community’s access to water and affordable energy. According to the Data Center Map, there are 22 data centers in New Mexico with likely more to follow. Project Jupiter has been the recipient of $165 billion in investment capital and is planned to span 1,400 acres.

While the community has raised concerns over the amount of water the data center is expected to consume, New Mexico water officials stated that the data center is not using “new” water, it is assuming a water right previously held by a New Mexico sod farm.

Public comment has had a massive impact on the project’s implementation. The project is currently pursuing an air quality permit and, while changes have been made to reduce emissions from the project, the community is still seeking information on how the installation will impact them. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican  the New Mexico Attorney General is now  investigating fraudulent public comments made in support of the air quality permit.