ALBUQUERQUE — Deb Haaland announced Thursday she plans to put a moratorium on new large-scale data center projects while state lawmakers address a laundry list of guardrails if she is elected governor Nov. 3.
Haaland, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, would sign an executive order establishing the temporary pause on day one, she said at a news conference at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, noting the moratorium would remain in effect until the statewide protections she has proposed are in place.
Her remarks followed The New Mexican’s report on tens of thousands of dollars in contributions to her campaign by companies and CEOs with ties to the controversial Project Jupiter data center in Doña Ana County.
”I wish I didn’t have to raise as much money as I do just to be able to protect New Mexicans and have a better New Mexico for everyone,” the former U.S. interior secretary and congresswoman said in response to a question about the donations.
“But I believe I can walk and chew gum at the same time,” she added. “… If I’m elected governor, my first priority is for every single New Mexican to make sure that our communities are safe, healthy, that they can move forward, that they have the investments they need.”
She has not had any conversations about returning the campaign money — which amounted to at least $87,200 in the most recent reporting period, some of which came from tech company Oracle — but she plans to discuss the idea with her team, Haaland said.
She can’t be swayed by campaign donations, she said.
Still, some people have called on social media for Haaland to give back the funds. New Mexico Senate Republicans suggested in a Facebook post about her announcement Thursday that she “return the money then.”
Haaland’s Republican opponent, former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, characterized her call for a data center moratorium as “suspicious,” noting in a statement he has not received campaign donations from “big data.”
“She was caught with her hand in the cookie jar and this press conference was just an attempt to do damage control,” he said.
‘Innovation and protection’
There are more than 20 data centers in New Mexico, and further proposals are cropping up as some counties — including Santa Fe County — opt to adopt their own moratoriums.
Earlier this month, residents and environmental advocacy groups in Grant County decried an apparent proposal, which appeared as a legal notice in a local newspaper, to build a data center at the county’s rural southern edge.
Haaland, if elected, would work with the state Legislature to develop a framework of regulations for prospective data centers, she said. She outlined eight proposed requirements, which she said would not impact current county moratoriums:
- Transparent conversations between developers and communities, without nondisclosure agreements and with tribal consultation.
- Creation of renewable energy infrastructure by developers to prevent utility rate hikes for consumers.
- Use of the “best available technology” to protect the state’s water supply, with penalties for overuse or water waste.
- Union job opportunities that prioritize New Mexicans, with prevailing wage and benefit rates.
- Compliance with New Mexico’s renewable energy and zero-carbon requirements, and strong clawbacks if such standards aren’t met.
- Prevention of harm to water, air or the environment.
- Decommissioning bonds to ensure data centers “clean up their own messes.”
- High standards — “above and beyond” guardrails — for data centers to be eligible for aid from state business programs.
“Data centers in New Mexico lack clear accountability, and it’s time we take a stand to protect our communities, our workers and our waters,” Haaland said. “Innovation and protection are not mutually exclusive. We can safeguard our communities while also creating opportunities for workers and families.”
‘Predictability and certainty’
Hull reiterated he does not support a moratorium on new data center ventures. He believes decisions on projects should be left to counties and communities.
However, Hull said in an interview, he would support legislative action ensuring taxpayers and ratepayers don’t face increases because of data center water use.
“I don’t think you have to send a message that New Mexico is closed for business, but at the same point in time, we do have to safeguard resources,” Hull said. “If there’s anybody that understands the water demand in the state of New Mexico, it’s me.”
Haaland said at the news conference, “New Mexico is open for business,” and her guidelines would “provide more predictability and certainty and will help businesses be more responsible.”
In statements, the Democratic Party of New Mexico and energy savings nonprofit Prosperity Works hailed Haaland’s plan.
New Mexico House Democrats said in a statement members of the caucus have been working on legislation to address concerns about the impact of data centers on land, water and communities.
“We look forward to working with our next governor, along with our legislative colleagues and community members, to establish the policies and guardrails necessary to protect our people, our water, and our environment,” the statement said.
The Rio Grande chapter of the Sierra Club also applauded Haaland’s announcement on a moratorium, saying data centers could erase New Mexico’s progress on curbing climate change.
”We support a moratorium on data centers until serious and enforceable guardrails are in place,” chapter President Camilla Feibelman said in a statement.
Lily Alexander is a state accountability reporter for The New Mexican and Searchlight New Mexico, focusing on equity and transparency. Her position is part of the New Mexican Public Service Journalism Fund, and her stories are available to all readers without a paywall.
