The Sierra County Commission brushed off concerns that a proposed data center recently rejected in Socorro might seek a new site at Spaceport America, with Chairman James Paxon denying there had been any such proposal and ordering people at a public comment period to withhold their applause.
“We have decorum and we have order,” Paxon said. “You can either abide by the decorum at the order of the commission or you can leave. If you continue that (applauding speakers), I will ask the sheriff to escort you out.”
Kyle Smith, one of four people who spoke on Tuesday (June 23), told Paxon the applause was not intended to be disrespectful, but only to show support for banning data centers in Sierra County. He asked that the commission enact a moratorium banning data centers in Sierra County.
He said in a telephone interview later that despite the push for more data centers to support artificial intelligence, or AI, the country is beginning to see a downturn. Data centers could even use the governmental power of eminent domain to acquire and raze residential properties, Smith said.
Sulome Anderson said her concerns are environmental due to data centers creating new light and noise pollution and needing large amounts of electricity for power and water for coolant, especially critical in arid Sierra County. A data center in Georgia recently caused domestic water taps to run dry, she said.
June Russett told the commission that although the idea of locating a data center at the Spaceport might turn out to be purely rumor, “we are proactively coming to you … because of extremely curious and dangerous things that are happening in our current climate across the nation.” Despite 75 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Republicans opposing more data centers, the clamor for more such facilities is being pushed by “various billionaires,” she said.
According to a website maintained by environmental advocate Erin Brockovich (subject of a 2000 film about her case against Pacific Gas & Electric) 33 data centers currently are operating in the United States with 68 under construction and 41 more proposed.
Plans for the 10,000-square-foot Green Data center on New Mexico Tech land between Socorro and Magdalena were shelved earlier this month after the Socorro County Commission approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and similar facilities.
Meanwhile, Project Jupiter Project is getting underway on a 1,200-acre site in Santa Theresa in Doña Ana County with its county commission endorsing tax breaks and other protections for developers. Like Sierra County Commissioner Paxon, Doña Ana Commissioner Manuel Sanchez has sparred with opponents at public hearings. Oracle and other developers have been running TV and newspaper ads and holding job fairs about the development.
So far, the only data center operating in New Mexico is the Meta (formerly Facebook) center in Los Lunas.
Paxon said if he were to hear about any proposal to build a data center in Sierra County, he would be transparent with the public about it. Commissioners Hank Hopkins and Sandy Jones did not say anything about the idea.
But in a telephone interview after the meeting, Jones said he had heard talk about locating a data center at Spaceport America, even though that could mean trouble for the restricted operations at the nearby White Sands Missile Range. “Spaceport barely has enough water to do their own operations,” he added.
Charles Hurley of Spaceport America acknowledged Thursday that since 2021 the Spaceport Authority has been working with a developer seeking to use 50 acres of the campus near Engle “as an innovative testing and demonstration facility for a sustainable, high-performance computer center.
“No lease has been finalized, and initial plans emphasize on-site solar energy to minimize reliance on the local power grid and incorporate a self-contained water=cooling system that requires only one fill,” he said. “These novel, environmentally friendly approaches by the developer aim to promote the responsible evolution of data centers toward more sustainable operations.”
Great write-up, quick clarification- there is currently an eminent domain case in Georgia to take peoples homes to build a data center. The eminent domain case that took my great aunts home in New London was the famous Kelo vs. City of New London supreme court case of 2005. Additionally, Ron Dankert spoke up and defended the clapping, he and I were sitting next to each-other. Thank you for covering this important issue!