US Rep. Vasquez calls for New Mexico county to approve data center moratorium

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) is calling on county officials in New Mexico to approve a temporary moratorium on building new data centers after a Canadian developer made the controversial proposal to build a data center and solar array on 10,000 acres in Socorro County.

Residents first learned of Green Data’s proposal to build in partnership with the local university, New Mexico Tech, in March, when company CEO Jason Bak spoke before the Socorro Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees.

Since then, residents have mobilized against the project, which Bak has said would be the world’s largest “renewable-led” data center.

Residents have packed the room to voice their opposition to the project at town halls hosted by the Socorro City Council and New Mexico Tech, arguing that the proposal would threaten their views, land and water. The Socorro County Board of Commissioners recently voted to begin the process of considering a data center moratorium.

“I’ve heard it loud and clear from folks in Socorro County: they don’t want one of the world’s largest data centers in their backyard,” Vasquez said in a statement. “The current proposal offers limited transparency and a lack of clear answers, and it should not be considered at this time. This massive data center would likely degrade quality of life for many residents who have strongly voiced their opposition.”

Vasquez, whose congressional district includes much of Southern New Mexico, said the proposal would “permanently alter” the region’s night sky and imperil its wildlife corridors.

Bak has previously said that the “vast majority” of water for the project would come from cutting-edge “atmospheric water generation,” a technology that aims to pull moisture from the air and convert it into usable water. Vasquez said the “uncertain impact” on the area’s water resources is cause for concern.

“I encourage the County to approve the temporary moratorium it is considering to ensure there is more time to listen to the community and better understand the short and long-term impacts of such a project on the community as a whole,” Vasquez said.

When reached by phone, Bak would not respond to Vasquez’s statement beyond saying, “We’re currently reviewing the moratorium and we’ll comment later.”

In a follow-up written statement, Bak said his company “shares the community’s deep appreciation for what makes Socorro special and we welcome a thoughtful, fact-based conversation about our project.” 

“Our design reflects that commitment, it’s built around solar and battery as primary power and uses atmospheric water generation, minimizing reliance on the region’s land, grid and water resources,” Bak wrote. “We respect the county’s process, including its consideration of a temporary moratorium, and we’re committed to engaging openly with residents, local leaders and elected officials as the review moves forward. We believe responsible development and a thriving Socorro go hand in hand, and we look forward to demonstrating that in the months ahead.”