We have a data center project in my county.
September 10, 2025
The campus, which would include four data center facilities, would feature a “closed-loop” system of pipes to cool the computer servers inside the buildings, which developers say would require a one-time fill-up before the water is recycled over and over. Filling up the four data centers would require about 10 million gallons of water, and the developers said the campus’ ongoing consumption would be 7.2 million gallons of water every year that it’s operating.
*The closed-loop system “is not a new technology. It’s well-proven. We have experience designing and building that,” Greer said. *
The project would use a daily average of 20,000 gallons when it’s up-and-running, with a maximum consumption capped at 60,000 gallons in a day, according to figures provided by the developers.
Quite a bit of water for a region that annually receives only 10-12 inches of rainfall a year.
April 22, 2026
We got snookered.
The Dona Ana County Commission gave the green light to Project Jupiter, a massive $165 billion data center being built in the south county, based on its belief that the project would use an average of 20,000 gallons of water a day, capped at 60,000 gallons.
Reporting by the Santa Fe New Mexican, along with planning documents by the State Engineers Office, estimate the usage at nearly 1 million gallons a day. The word “potable” was slipped into the original agreement, allowing for the huge increase in water usage, independent investigative reporter Heath Haussamen explained during a recent community radio interview.
The word “potable” was not in the original agreement voted on in September. It was added after other commissioners had abdicated their responsibility and authorized the chairman to negotiate the final agreement.
County Attorney Cari Neill appears to have been caught flat-footed. In an interview with KRWG, she dismissed the New Mexican article as “misinformation,” but acknowledged that the county does not have enough information yet to determine if the report is accurate.
The rubes have been taken again.
Around 1970 consultants convinced the city to close the main street in a 4 block for a pedestrian mall. Killed the downtown businesses.
1994 consultants convinced the city to start its own electric utility to replace El Paso Electric utility. The legal hurdles and complications were too much 4 years later, God only know the cost, the attempt ended.
