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Opinion: Why New Mexicans should organize against Project Jupiter and future data centers
By Special to El Paso Matters at El Paso Matters
· June 17, 2026
· 1 min read
By Lorien House
All over the United States, people are protesting new data centers because of obvious harms: energy consumption, water use and contamination, waste (including vast quantities of e-waste), air, light and noise pollution.
Lorien House
But people also are upset because of la...
Key takeaway Lorien House But people also are upset because of la...
Why this matters in The El Paso
The controversy surrounding Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County has significant implications for El Paso County, as the region considers its own approach to data center development. The lack of transparency and coercive tactics used to push through the Oracle/OpenAI project should serve as a cautionary tale for local officials and residents. El Paso County's own experiences with balancing economic growth and environmental concerns can inform its response to potential data center proposals. The fact that the Bureau of Land Management fast-tracked a natural gas pipeline in New Mexico to power Jupiter's fuel cells raises questions about the potential for similar infrastructure projects in the El Paso area. As the city and county weigh the benefits and drawbacks of data center development, they must prioritize transparency, community engagement, and rigorous environmental assessment to avoid the pitfalls seen in the Project Jupiter debacle.
About this story
Original reporting by El Paso Matters . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit El Paso Matters . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: El Paso Matters ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Lorien House
All over the United States, people are protesting new data centers because of obvious harms: energy consumption, water use and contamination, waste (including vast quantities of e-waste), air, light and noise pollution.
Lorien House
But people also are upset because of la...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by El Paso Matters and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Special to El Paso Matters at El Paso Matters. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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