Albuquerque – On Sept. 17, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland used a public appearance to unveil an eight‑point framework for regulating the artificial intelligence and data‑center industry in New Mexico. Central to her plan is a temporary statewide moratorium on new data‑center projects, to be enacted by executive order on her first day in office if she wins the November election.
Haaland’s moratorium proposal
Haaland said the pause would give the state time to adopt “robust protections” and enforce them before any new facility can break ground. She emphasized that the moratorium would not affect the already‑under‑construction Project Jupiter – an Oracle‑ and OpenAI‑backed AI data‑center campus at the Santa Teresa Industrial Park.
Her framework calls for future data‑center developers to:
- Prohibit non‑disclosure agreements that keep local governments in the dark.
- Build their own renewable‑energy infrastructure and meet New Mexico’s zero‑carbon standards.
- Install closed‑loop cooling systems and publicly report emissions.
- Prioritize union jobs for New Mexicans.
- Comply with clean‑air, noise, light‑pollution and habitat‑protection rules.
- Post decommissioning bonds to cover future waste cleanup.
- Demonstrate community accountability to qualify for state programs.
Haaland stressed that the moratorium is not a “blanket ‘no’” to data‑center investment, but a safeguard for families and communities while the state builds a stronger regulatory foundation.
Hull’s counter‑proposal
Republican challenger Gregg Hull immediately pushed back, warning that a statewide ban would send a message that New Mexico is “closed for business.” Hull advocated for “real water and energy accountability, with limits set project by project based on local infrastructure capacity,” rather than a one‑size‑fits‑all rule from Santa Fe.
“I support guardrails, not block walls,” Hull said in a statement to the Sun‑News. He noted that his campaign has received no contributions from Oracle or any entity tied to Project Jupiter, positioning his stance as free from industry influence.
Campaign finance concerns
According to the first campaign‑finance filing, Haaland’s campaign accepted two maximum contributions of $12,400 each from Oracle America and its CEO Clay Magouyrk. When asked about refusing industry money, Haaland replied, “I am the first person to say that elections are entirely too expensive… New Mexicans are still the priority to me.” She added that she has not discussed donation refusals with her campaign staff.
Hull’s refusal to accept such contributions underscores his commitment to keeping New Mexico’s business climate open while still protecting water and energy resources.
Local reaction and legal backdrop
Community members in Doña Ana County have voiced mixed feelings about Project Jupiter’s impact on air quality and water use. The New Mexico Supreme Court recently stepped in to temporarily halt the air‑quality permit and the state’s approval of well‑drilling for the project, reflecting growing public scrutiny.
Haaland said she will continue to listen to residents, noting that pressure from the community prompted the developer to issue a request for proposals for a clean‑energy project.
What’s next?
If elected, Haaland would issue the moratorium by executive order on day one and would not prevent local governments from imposing their own pauses. Hull, meanwhile, promises to work with local officials to set “project‑by‑project” limits that respect New Mexico’s infrastructure capacity.
Both candidates agree that the AI and data‑center industry will play a role in the state’s future, but they diverge sharply on how to balance economic growth with environmental stewardship and community rights. Voters will decide in November whether New Mexico moves forward with a blanket pause or adopts a more flexible, accountability‑focused approach.
Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
