New Mexico Data Center Intel

Recent New Mexico data center news

• Mar 9, 2026

  AI Data Centers Create Local Jobs: What That Really Means for Our Communities

  Oracle has announced that its AI data center expansion will create thousands of construction and operational jobs and that the company is investing in workforce development programs (blog post by Josh Pitcock, Mar 9, 2026).

  • Main announcement/action: Oracle says its AI data center campuses will generate substantial construction jobs (approximately 4,000 each at its New Mexico and Wisconsin campuses; more than 8,000 construction workers have supported the Abilene, Texas site to date; 2,500–3,000 construction jobs expected in Michigan; 5,000 in Shackelford, Texas) and expects to hire nearly 8,000 operational employees across Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin once sites are operational. The Abilene site has been under construction since 2024 and is described as already operational.

  • Background and implementation details: Oracle is expanding workforce initiatives including the Data Center Oracle Pathways Trainee program, a partnership with Saint Martin’s University supporting a 12-week Server and Cloud Application: Data Center Technician program, and curriculum through Oracle Academy. The blog highlights specific roles (data center technicians, facilities engineers, security, logistics) and emphasizes support for veterans and military families through tailored classroom, lab, and coaching programs.

• Mar 5, 2026

  U.S. Issues First Commercial Construction Permit for a Nuclear Reactor in Years

  The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a construction permit for a TerraPower subsidiary to build a sodium-cooled commercial reactor in western Wyoming.

  • Main announcement: The NRC issued its first construction permit for a commercial reactor in eight years, allowing TerraPower to begin construction within weeks on an up-to $4 billion plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming; completion is targeted for 2030 and the reactor is rated 345 megawatts (up to 500 MW peak).
  • Background and details: The permit is the NRC’s first for a non-light-water commercial reactor in more than 40 years; the plant will be sited beside a coal-fired plant being converted to natural gas, will use molten sodium as a coolant, and TerraPower says it is lining up sources of highly enriched uranium domestically and in South Africa. In January, the U.S. Department of Energy announced a first step toward modernizing the fuel cycle and invited states to express interest by April 1.
• Mar 3, 2026

  Construimos un futuro sostenible en Nuevo México

  Oracle sent a letter to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) supporting approval of air permits for two behind-the-meter microgrids tied to Project Jupiter, Oracle’s planned AI data center campus in southern New Mexico.

  • Main announcement: Oracle is requesting NMED approval for the east and west Doña Ana County microgrid air permits for Project Jupiter, and commits to pay all energy costs for Project Jupiter and its other new AI data centers; the microgrids will be natural-gas-fired behind-the-meter systems with advanced emissions controls and continuous emissions monitoring to meet or exceed state and federal air quality standards. The company also states it will integrate renewables and carbon-free resources (e.g., solar, fuel cells) into the microgrids on the same timeframe to support net-zero objectives.
  • Background and details: Oracle states ~4,000 construction jobs and up to 1,500 permanent jobs, an estimated $384 million annual economic boost during construction and $113 million per year in direct operating economic benefits; Oracle details $360 million in direct payments to schools, infrastructure and local services, and $50 million for repairing/upgrading local water systems. The blog references a letter to NMED (link provided) and notes SEC filings as sources for forward-looking statement disclaimers.
• Mar 3, 2026

  Building a Sustainable Future in New Mexico

  Oracle submitted a letter to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) seeking air permit approval for the Doña Ana County East and West Microgrids tied to Project Jupiter.

  • Permits sought and technical plan: The request would allow behind-the-meter, natural gas-powered microgrids to power the Project Jupiter AI data center campus; Oracle committed to pay for all energy costs at Project Jupiter and other new AI data centers; the microgrids will have advanced emission controls and continuous emissions monitoring, and Oracle plans to integrate renewable, carbon-free energy (solar and/or fuel cells) in support of New Mexico’s 2045 net-zero goals during that timeframe.
  • Economic and local commitments: Oracle states ~4,000 construction jobs, up to 1,500 ongoing jobs, an estimated $384 million/year boost to Doña Ana County during construction, $113 million/year estimated direct economic output once operational, $360 million in direct payments to Doña Ana County for schools/infrastructure/local services, and $50 million for local water system repairs/upgrades; Oracle also says it is working with partners on emissions reductions in Las Cruces, Doña Ana, and El Paso.
• Feb 28, 2026

  OPINION: Project Jupiter perpetuates environmental racism and cultural appropriation of New Mexico

  Dr. Virginia Necochea (New Mexico Environmental Law Center) calls on Secretary James Kenney and the New Mexico Environmental Department to hold a public hearing on Project Jupiter’s air quality permit applications.

  • Main action: Dr. Virginia Necochea urges a public hearing on Project Jupiter’s air quality permit applications with a public comment/petition deadline of March 2; affected communities named are Santa Teresa and Sunland Park, and the facility is described as an AI-training data center (Project Jupiter).
  • Background/details: The opinion notes concerns over water consumption, air emissions, increased electricity costs, noise pollution, and cultural appropriation by out-of-state LLCs using names like Acoma; project backers referenced include Red Chile Ventures, Green Chile Ventures, Yucca Growth, Acoma LLC and the image credit references Oracle.
• Feb 25, 2026

  Climate Change Solutions - February 24, 2026

  The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) released a newsletter highlighting data center impacts, policy developments on Capitol Hill, and upcoming briefings and events.

  • Main announcement: EESI highlighted rising household energy costs driven in part by data center demand, noting electricity prices have risen by up to 267% since 2020 in high-concentration data center areas and that wildfires cost the United States up to $424 billion annually. The newsletter features the article “Data Center Power Demands Are Contributing to Higher Energy Bills,” a podcast on wildfire philanthropy, and announces briefings including “Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability” on Thursday, February 26 (3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online).

  • Background and other details: The newsletter summaries recent legislative actions and events: Senate Energy Committee advanced the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 (S.714); House Committee approved the ACERO Act (H.R.390) to authorize NASA’s ACERO project; Senate Foreign Relations agreed to the Protecting Global Fisheries Act of 2026 (S.1369); House introduced the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R.7567). Events listed with dates/times/locations:

    • Understanding Load Growth and Energy Affordability — Feb 26, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
    • Igniting Innovation: Progress and a Path Forward for Wildfire Policy — Mar 3, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385 and online (Reception to follow)
    • Strategies to Lower Utility Bills Now for Households and Small Businesses — Mar 12, 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building, Gold Room (Room 2168) and online
    • 2026 Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency EXPO and Policy Forum (EXPO 2026) — Jun 24, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m., Rayburn House Office Building Foyer and Gold Room and online
• Feb 25, 2026

  CTA Official Says It’s Time to Reclaim and Auction TV Station Spectrum

  The Consumer Technology Association’s SVP Michael Petricone called on Congress to pursue an “Incentive Auction 2.0” to reclaim and auction spectrum licensed to TV station owners.

  • Main action: Michael Petricone (CTA SVP of Government & Regulatory Affairs) urged Congress to reclaim broadcaster-held spectrum via an “Incentive Auction 2.0”, to auction it openly and let the market allocate it to its highest value uses; he also called for removing regulatory advantages that favor legacy TV stations and criticized proposals to loosen ownership rules to permit more mergers and consolidation.
  • Background and other details: The National Association of Broadcasters (Grace Whaley) pushed back defending local stations and praising FCC Chairman Brendan Carr for modernizing rules; the article also references related telecom items including Akamai opposing a USF tax on CDNs, calls to protect CBRS from auction, four ISPs joining an open-access network in Los Alamos, a Florida bill to make Big Tech pay data center energy bills, and a Starlink–Microsoft partnership to serve developing nations.
• Feb 23, 2026

  Los Alamos Names Public Broadband Network ‘Atomic Fiber’

  Los Alamos County has announced it selected “Atomic Fiber” as the name for its county-owned community broadband network and provided timeline, design, coverage and funding details.

  • Main announcement: Los Alamos County selected “Atomic Fiber” (received more than two-thirds of public survey votes) as the name for a county-owned, open-access fiber-to-the-premise network expected to serve more than 10,000 homes and businesses; the design phase completed January 2026, material procurement underway February 2026, and construction scheduled to begin April 2026 in eight phases across 47 distribution areas.
  • Project details & funding: The network will include three hubs (White Rock Fire Station 3, Los Alamos Municipal Building, Los Alamos Golf Course), offer symmetrical service up to 10 Gigabits per second, incorporate redundancy, anticipate first service-ready customers in fall 2026 with full buildout projected 2029–2030, and construction funding will be provided via New Mexico Gross Receipts Tax revenue bonds; existing ISPs will remain available while additional providers can use the open-access network.
• Feb 19, 2026

  Enhanced geothermal systems could expand geothermal power generation

  Fervo Energy is constructing the first large-scale commercial enhanced geothermal system (EGS) power generator in the United States (Cape Generating Station), planned to come online in June 2026.

  • Main announcement:Fervo Energy’s Cape Generating Station is under construction with a planned maximum capacity of 53 MW (28 MW net summer capacity) and is scheduled online June 2026; two additional 53 MW units at the same location are expected to begin operation January 2027, and Fervo has signed two PPAs totaling 320 MW with Southern California Edison for further expansion in 2028.
  • Background and other details: Ongoing federal and commercial efforts include DOE-sponsored FORGE research, Department of Defense partnerships with six geothermal developers to power bases in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, a Rodatherm Energy Corp. closed-loop pilot expected by January 2028, and a Meta–SAGE agreement to supply up to 150 MW of new geothermal power east of the Rocky Mountains.
• Feb 17, 2026

  Designing Data Centers for the Communities and Natural Environments Where We Operate

  Oracle commits to community-centered design and environmental protections for its AI data center projects.

  • Main announcement/action: Oracle will design and build AI data centers with community and environmental protections including closed-loop, non-evaporative cooling systems, commitments to preserve and enhance on-site land, reduced light and noise impacts, and a financial commitment of $50 million to modernize Doña Ana County’s water system. Oracle also states it will fund any electrical infrastructure upgrades required to service its campuses (not ratepayers), and that daily potable water use at its sites will be similar to a typical office building.

  • Details and site-specific facts:

    • Port Washington, Wisconsin: 672-acre site; 172 acres to be preserved/enhanced; planting more than 2,000 native trees; supporting the Valley Creek Corridor Revitalization Project to restore/protect waterways.
    • Saline Township, Michigan:Three-quarters of the site to remain farmland, wetlands, and open space; buildings sit below road level; sensor-controlled, downward-facing lighting; site noise ~55 decibels at the property line; new stormwater systems will reduce runoff into the Saline River to below current levels.
    • Doña Ana County, New Mexico: closed-loop cooling initial fill will use non-potable water drawn from existing commercial water rights (not community drinking water); $50 million committed to modernize the county water system.
    • Abilene, Texas: data center will utilize excess, low-cost wind energy from the local grid to help stabilize utilization.