New Mexico Data Center Intel

Recent New Mexico data center news

• Dec 11, 2025

  Lawmakers introduce bill to cancel $100 million University of Michigan data center grant

  Michigan State Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. introduced legislation to rescind a $100 million state grant awarded for the University of Michigan and Los Alamos National Laboratory’s planned data center in Ypsilanti Township.

  • Main action: Legislation introduced by Rep. Jimmie Wilson Jr. seeks to rescind a $100 million state grant (awarded by the Michigan Strategic Fund / Michigan Economic Development Corp.) for the U‑M / Los Alamos data center project; the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees passed a Dec. 2 resolution calling the grant application a “bait and switch” and urging cancellation.
  • Background and details: The overall project is described as a $1.2 billion initiative with U‑M financing $850 million, initially proposed for a 20‑acre site (grant application) while the university later acquired 124.68 acres on Textile Road; construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 and complete by 2031, the project would include two computing centers and the university says it will support research in medicine, climate science, energy, and national security; a petition signed by over 700 U‑M employees, faculty, and students calls to cancel the project and end the Los Alamos partnership.
• Dec 11, 2025

  Think Like a Mountaineer: Lessons in Speed, Safety and Scaling with Crusoe

  Crusoe has announced rapid expansion as a sustainable AI infrastructure provider, including building a 1.2 GW data center campus for OpenAI and Oracle and deploying a large microgrid using solar and second-life EV batteries.

  • Crusoe has raised over $1 billion, is building a 1.2 GW Abilene data center campus for OpenAI and Oracle, delivered its first 200 MW building in 11 months, and unveiled North America’s largest microgrid powered by large-scale solar and second-life EV batteries as part of its vertically integrated, sustainable AI infrastructure strategy.
  • CEO Chase Lochmiller applies a “mountaineer mindset”—deep preparation, moving light and fast but safely, strong safety culture, and curiosity-driven design—which underpins Crusoe’s shift from flared-gas bitcoin mining to GW-scale AI data centers, supported by institutional partners like Brookfield and Blue Owl and highlighted across MCJ’s podcasts, videos, and community content.
• Dec 2, 2025 · RMI

  The Five Types of Electro-Industrial States

  Rocky Mountain Institute presents a typology classifying US states into five electro-industrial archetypes.

  • Main announcement/action: RMI authors classify states into five archetypes — Momentum Hubs (Arizona, California), Fast‑Track Builders (Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Ohio, Idaho), Policy Champions (New York, Michigan, Virginia, Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania), Open‑Door Starters (Vermont, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Mississippi, Iowa), and Early‑Stage Starters (Missouri, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Maine, Alabama, Louisiana, Indiana, West Virginia, Montana, Arkansas). The typology is based on policy reliability, regulatory ease, economic capacity, physical infrastructure (power and interconnection), and market momentum.
  • Background and details: The analysis highlights that market momentum and policy reliability should operate in tandem; low regulatory burdens accelerate short-term investment but may strain local housing and infrastructure without accompanying policy ambition. The authors reference the report GREASE Lightning as a policy playbook for designing investment-led, state-driven electro-industrial strategies.
• Nov 7, 2025

  Nuclear, Natural Gas Power Generation Planned for Massive New Mexico Data Center Site

  New Era Energy & Digital has entered a land option purchase agreement for a 3,500-acre site in Lea County, New Mexico to develop a multi-gigawatt data center campus powered by both natural gas and nuclear generation.

  • Main announcement: The company announced a plan for >2 GW of natural gas-fired generation and 5 GW or more of nuclear power to energize a 3,500-acre AI-focused campus in Lea County, New Mexico; first power generation (likely gas-fired) is expected in 2028, and engineering for the campus is expected to start within the next month.
  • Background and implementation details: The site was chosen for proximity to major gas transmission lines, existing power infrastructure, abundant water, skilled workforce, and high-speed fiber; New Era confirmed natural gas availability and is in the final stages of nuclear technology selection. This is New Era’s first wholly owned project, independent of the TCDC joint venture with Sharon AI (that JV targets 250 MW in the Permian Basin), and New Era plans to offer powered shell buildings and powered land lease options for AI enterprises while working with the State of New Mexico on economic and environmental alignment.
• Nov 6, 2025

  New Era Energy & Digital Enters into Land Option Purchase Agreement for 3,500 Acres in New Mexico for 7GW AI Data Center Hub; Marks first Wholly Owned Development, Separate from TCDC Joint Venture

  New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. has entered a land option purchase agreement for approximately 3,500 acres in Lea County, New Mexico to develop a multi-gigawatt AI data center campus.

  • Project details: Land option purchase for ~3,500 acres in Lea County; planned transformation into a multi-gigawatt AI hub featuring more than 2 GW of natural gas generation and a planned 5+ GW nuclear installation; initial power delivery is expected in 2028; engineering to commence within the next 30 days; New Era has confirmed gas availability and is in the final stages of nuclear technology selection.
  • Background and implementation: This is New Era’s first wholly owned project, independent from the Texas Critical Data Centers (TCDC) joint venture; the company will offer powered shell buildings and powered land lease options for AI enterprises; site selected for proximity to major gas transmission lines, existing power infrastructure, abundant water supply, skilled workforce, and high-speed fiber connectivity; New Era is working closely with the State of New Mexico to align with state economic and environmental priorities.
• Nov 6, 2025

  New Era Energy & Digital Enters into Land Option Purchase Agreement for 3,500 Acres in New Mexico for 7GW AI Data Center Hub; Marks first Wholly Owned Development, Separate from TCDC Joint Venture

  New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. has entered a land option purchase agreement for approximately 3,500 acres in Lea County, New Mexico to develop a large-scale AI data center campus.

  • Project scope & timeline: Land option purchase agreement for ~3,500 acres in Lea County; planned multi-gigawatt campus with more than 2 GW of natural gas generation and a planned 5+ GW nuclear installation; initial power delivery expected in 2028; engineering to commence within 30 days; gas availability for natural gas facilities confirmed; nuclear technology selection in final stages. The project is New Era’s first wholly owned project (independent from the TCDC joint venture) and will offer powered shell buildings and powered land lease options for AI tenants.
  • Site selection & coordination: Site chosen for proximity to major gas transmission lines, existing power infrastructure, abundant water supply, a skilled local workforce, and high-speed fiber connectivity; New Era is coordinating with the State of New Mexico to align with state economic and environmental priorities.
• Oct 9, 2025

  LandBridge Announces Solar Project Transaction with a Leading Energy Infrastructure Developer

  LandBridge Company LLC has finalized the sale of a solar project and received an upfront cash payment plus rights to contingent future cash payments.

  • Transaction details: Sale of a 3,000-acre photovoltaic solar energy generation project located in Reeves County, Texas, with a proposed generation capacity of up to 250 MW; buyer described as an unnamed, publicly-traded energy infrastructure developer; LandBridge received an upfront cash payment and contingent future cash payments tied to developmental milestones.
  • Background and company details: LandBridge owns ~277,000 surface acres across Texas and New Mexico and was formed by Five Point Infrastructure LLC (a private equity firm); the company referenced potential risks and regulatory approvals in its forward-looking statements and noted filings available via the SEC.
• Oct 9, 2025

  New Data Center Developments: October 2025

  Data Center Knowledge published a monthly roundup of global data center project announcements and investments.

  • Main roundup highlights: The article aggregates multiple large-scale AI and data center commitments, notably Nvidia’s $100 billion strategic partnership with OpenAI to deploy 10 GW of GPU systems with “first deployments in the second half of 2026” using Nvidia’s Vera Rubin platform; CloudHQ’s $4.8 billion plan to build six data centers in Mexico City with a 900 MW private substation opening in 2027; and regional large investments including Microsoft’s $6 billion Norway deal and Nvidia/OpenAI’s $15 billion UK initiative. It also notes planned construction starts/timelines such as HydraVault beginning construction this fall for a Tier 3-compatible Chicago data center with user buildout access estimated by 2026.
  • Background and other concrete details: The piece lists several energy and infrastructure actions: Centersquare’s $1 billion self-funded acquisition of 10 data centers across the US and Canada; Hitachi Energy’s $1 billion grid investment to support data center growth; Ameresco partnering with the US Navy and CyrusOne to build a 100 MW AI-optimized data center at NAS Lemoore; Pelagos Data Centres’ 250 MW facility near Gibraltar to be built in five phases with the first phase by late 2027; and GreenSquareDC’s 110 MW Sydney campus securing approvals for an initial 15 MW phase expected complete by Q3 2026. For partnerships/deals: Nvidia–OpenAI will deploy GPUs via Vera Rubin and work with infrastructure firms (Nscale/CoreWeave) starting H2 2026; CloudHQ will build six Mexico City data centers and a 900 MW substation opening in 2027.
• Oct 2, 2025

  Hitachi Energy, Grid United Advance North Plains Connector to Link Eastern and Western Grids

  Hitachi Energy and Grid United have formalized an Engineering Services Agreement (ESA) to advance the North Plains Connector (NPC) HVDC project.

  • Announcement details: The ESA (announced Oct. 2, 2025) tasks Hitachi Energy with early-stage engineering services for the ±525 kV, 3-GW, ~420-mile HVDC line between Colstrip, Montana and endpoints in Center and St. Anthony, North Dakota, including technical specifications for two HVDC converter stations, valve hall layouts, control-system architecture, harmonic mitigation studies, dynamic and steady-state modeling, and AC–DC interface definitions for integration with MISO, SPP, and WECC. Grid United will advance corridor refinement, land-rights acquisition, stakeholder engagement, environmental permitting support, and supply-chain sequencing for long-lead items; procurement timelines will be aligned with permitting and construction schedules.

  • Background and concrete project details: The NPC is a $3.2 billion project that received $700 million from DOE’s GRIP program (with a $2.8 billion recipient cost share); Grid United expects approvals in 2026, potential construction begin in 2028, and operation in 2032. An Astrapé/PNNL-reviewed evaluation estimated an ELCC of ~3,550 MW and quantified reliability benefits (~1,800 MW for WECC, 1,350 MW for SPP, 400 MW for MISO). The ESA is an enabling engineering step but does not constitute a final investment decision.

• Sep 27, 2025

  Private equity sees profits in power utilities as electric bills rise and big tech seeks more energy

  BlackRock subsidiary and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed buying Allete, parent of Minnesota Power; the deal faces regulatory review by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission with a potential Oct. 3 vote.

  • Main announcement: A BlackRock subsidiary and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board have proposed a buyout of Allete (parent of Minnesota Power) for $6.2 billion (including $67 a share, a 19% premium). The deal impacts a utility serving ~150,000 customers, could influence whether Google builds a data center in the region, and is scheduled for a possible Oct. 3 vote by the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Allete projects it will need $4.3 billion for transmission and clean energy projects over five years and says the buyout will not affect electric rates.
  • Background and other details: Private equity and infrastructure investors (including Blackstone) are pursuing multiple utility transactions (eg: bids for Public Service Company of New Mexico and Texas New Mexico Power Co; earlier sales in Wisconsin and a 19.9% stake sale in Northern Indiana). An administrative law judge (Megan J. McKenzie) recommended rejecting the Allete deal, and commission staff warned private investors could leverage the utility with debt to capture higher regulated returns. Opponents (eg: Energy and Policy Institute, state attorney general) cite risks of higher rates; supporters include building trades unions and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s administration.