New Mexico Data Center Intel

Recent New Mexico data center news

• Apr 1, 2026

  Six Emerging Environmental Entrepreneurs Selected for National Fellowship

  E2 and 1 Hotels have announced the 2026 E2 1 Hotels Fellows, awarding six early-career environmental entrepreneurs funding and support to implement projects advancing sustainability, clean energy, and environmental policy.

  • Main announcement: The 2026 E2 1 Hotels Fellows were announced on April 1, 2026, with six fellows each receiving $10,000 to execute projects addressing urban solar, community microgrids, K-12 climate and clean energy workforce development, data center siting and policy toolkits, and the environmental/social impacts of AI. The fellows named are Alex Hill, Alexis Cureton, Danielle Lee, Jolie Villegas, Nathaniel Burola, and Sonali Anderson.
  • Background and details: The fellowship is in its eighth year, started with a donation from 1 Hotels founder Barry Sternlicht and the Sternlicht Sustainability Fund; fellows also receive mentorship from E2 members and membership in E2’s Emerging Leaders program. The press release notes E2 members have collectively managed more than $100 billion in venture and private equity capital and supported over 2,500 companies.
• Apr 1, 2026

  Geothermal’s Rise a Hot Topic Worldwide

  Rystad Energy forecasts near-term surge in geothermal investment to 2030.

  • Main announcement: Rystad Energy projects global investment in geothermal could reach nearly $9 billion by 2030, up from about $1.4 billion in 2020; the article reports multiple new commercial and pilot projects (e.g., Fervo Energy’s 500-MW Cape Station in Utah; the U.S. EIA notes the first large-scale commercial EGS in the U.S. is expected online in June). Include timelines and project scales where given.
  • Background and supporting details:Corporate deals and government support include Google’s long-term agreement with Ormat to supply up to 150 MW in Nevada (online 2028–2030), XGS Energy’s $1.2-billion, 150-MW project to power Meta in New Mexico (two phases operational by 2030), federal and state grants (e.g., $1.78 million tax credit for Vail on a $6-million library geothermal project; DOE / GEODE $165 million grant programs; an $8.6-million grant approved to expand a U.S. Northeast geothermal district heating network).
• Mar 20, 2026

  Exowatt Expands to Austin as Power Constraints Reshape AI Infrastructure

  Exowatt opened an 11-acre campus in Austin to accelerate deployment of modular solar energy systems and address power constraints for AI infrastructure.

  • Main announcement: Exowatt has opened an 11-acre campus in Austin containing 48,000 square feet of office, manufacturing, and warehouse space to speed deployment of its modular solar energy systems; the company also launched ExoRise, a business unit to deliver turnkey “powered land” in solar-rich regions (West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada) to compress deployment timelines.
  • Background and details: The move responds to increasing grid congestion, interconnection delays, and surging AI load requests across US markets (notably Texas and the Southwest); Exowatt previously received a $50 million Series A extension backed by Overmatch Ventures, and company and industry leaders (Hannan Happi, Steven Dickens, Evan Loomis) emphasize modular and behind-the-meter solutions as strategic responses.
• Mar 19, 2026

  Nuclear Sprint: DOE and Industry Race to Meet Trump’s Target

  The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources convened March 19 to examine DOE implementation of President Trump’s May 2025 nuclear energy executive orders.

  • Main announcement/action: The hearing presented DOE and witnesses’ roadmap to expand U.S. nuclear capacity from ~100 GW today to 400 GW by 2050, with an executive-order milestone of three reactors achieving criticality by July 4, 2026; near-term measures include a $1 billion loan for the Crane Restart (expected 835 MW by 2028), Palisades restart (~800 MW) this summer, and reactor uprates adding ~2.5 GW by 2027 and ~5 GW by 2029. The DOE announced three $900 million enrichment awards, and Kairos Power is operating under a $303 million milestone-based technology investment agreement and a PPA to deliver up to 50 MW (part of up to 500 MW by 2035 with Google/TVA).

  • Background and other details: Witnesses flagged fuel supply vulnerabilities (Russia supplied ~20–25% of U.S. enriched uranium in 2024; a >3 million SWU gap exists), HALEU production gaps (no commercial-scale HALEU outside Russia/China), lithium-7 shortages for molten-salt reactors, INL facility timelines (e.g., DOME completion by March 31, 2026), participation in the Reactor Pilot Program (10 companies, 11 projects), and statutory/ export measures including the International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025 authorizing $65.5 million for export support and a Poland $47 billion AP1000 selection.

• Mar 17, 2026

  US Data Centre Pipeline Hits 241 GW, Growth Slows in Q4: Wood Mackenzie

  Wood Mackenzie reported that the disclosed U.S. data centre pipeline reached 241 GW by end-2025, while Q4 additions slowed to about 25 GW.

  • Main finding: The disclosed U.S. data centre pipeline reached 241 GW by end-2025; Q4 2025 additions were ~25 GW (about half of Q3). Large-load capacity tied to construction or electricity supply agreements is ~183 GW (≈22% of U.S. peak demand in 2025), and developers shifted to executing existing projects due to load queue constraints and speculative mega-project activity in the U.S. South and Southwest.
  • Additional details: The report projects major developers will increase capital spending by about $94 billion versus 2025 (growth expected to slow in 2026). Oracle Corporation has taken on significant debt for its “Stargate” campuses (many relying on on-site generation). ERCOT and PJM account for 72% of large-load commitments; Texas leads planned capacity and on-site generation, while New Mexico, Indiana, and Wyoming saw the fastest Q4 project growth. The report also notes proposed grid/interconnection rule changes in ERCOT and Southwest Power Pool that could require new generation contracts or introduce non-firm transmission/curtailment risks.
• 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.