Work will be allowed to continue building the massive Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa in the wake of two rulings by the New Mexico Supreme Court.
The project, encompassing the construction of four data centers on a 1,400-acre campus, has been repeatedly criticized by environmental groups concerned about the amount of power and water that will be required to operate the facilities.
Last month the New Energy Economy of Santa Fe and Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity challenged both the use of an emergency water well, along with the center’s pending air quality permit application, with the New Mexico Environmental Department.
In so doing, the groups moved to shut down the scheduled regulator proceedings for the more than $50 billion project.
The actions of the two groups follow in the wake of a handful of lawsuits attacking various aspects of the data center and the process by which it was approved. One action has said that the Dona Ana County Commission violated the state’s Open Meetings Act when it gave the green light to draft forms of the development agreements for the project instead of the finalized ones.
Last month the higher court paused the scheduled regulatory proceedings for the project until it was able to evaluate the challenges lodged by the two environmental groups.
Ultimately, in a unanimous ruling, the state Supreme Court turned aside the challenges to Project Jupiter and in so doing allowed the regulatory proceedings to continue.
Officials with both groups have since vowed to continue their opposition to the project.
Project Jupiter has been the subject of national news due to its size and the fervor of the opposition to it. According to a report filed on Friday by the Financial Times, Project Jupiter, the first phase of which was expected to be completed in November, is currently around “seven months behind its proposed date to come online.”
September 22, 2026
By Garry Boulard
Rendering courtesy of Dona Ana County
