Activists protest Oracle data center plan in Doña Ana County

Activists from across New Mexico and the country gathered at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces to protest Oracle's planned data center in Doña Ana County, according to KVIA. The demonstration, organized by Youth United for Climate Crisis Action (YUCCA) and the "Stop Project Jupiter" coalition following three days of statewide organizing, featured six speakers addressing environmental impact, air quality, and water security.

Officially called Project Jupiter, Oracle's multibillion-dollar facility has prompted resistance from residents concerned about resource demands in the Chihuahuan Desert. Judith, a Doña Ana County resident for over 40 years, told the crowd: "This is terrifying on every level. Life... it's going to be taking life. Our water."

Jonathan Juarez, an organizer with the movement, said demonstrators want to prevent the project to ensure "clean air and clean water for us to be able to pass down to future generations of our children." Speakers also expressed doubt about economic promises from large tech corporations entering rural communities, citing past corporate departures that left communities without promised prosperity and jobs.

Oracle responded with a statement detailing design modifications intended to address environmental concerns. The company replaced its original gas turbine design with Bloom Energy fuel cells to reduce air pollutants and operational water use. Oracle also proposed an enforceable operating cap reducing the microgrid's permitted emissions by approximately 35% compared with the previous proposal.

The company said it issued a request for proposals for two gigawatts of new renewable energy in New Mexico, including solar, wind, and geothermal projects, aiming for 100% carbon-free energy matching for Project Jupiter by 2031. Oracle stated the cooling and fuel cell systems use closed-loop cooling, with estimated average annual operational water use equivalent to approximately nine U.S. households, and public drinking water used only for workplace kitchens and restrooms.

Oracle also announced an initiative to save more water than Project Jupiter uses in New Mexico and committed to a public dashboard tracking air, noise, heat, light, and water performance once operational.

According to Oracle's statement, the project has generated more than $100 million in state and county tax revenue to date, including $50 million for local water infrastructure, with 4,393 workers employed to date, including 1,230 New Mexico residents. The company projected more than $13 billion in long-term economic impact, more than 7,000 construction jobs, and 1,500 ongoing project-supported jobs.