The New Mexico Environment Department will hold a public hearing in Sunland Park in October over whether to approve data center Project Jupiter’s controversial air quality permit application.
Developer Yucca Growth Infrastructure’s application shows plans to use fuel cell technology to power the OpenAI and Oracle data center. The technology can convert natural gas, biogas or hydrogen into electricity and documents filed as part of the air quality permit application shows they rely on natural gas pipelines. The permit, if approved, would allow the project to emit more greenhouse gases annually than Albuquerque and Las Cruces combined.
The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the Sunland Park Multi-Generational Center and will “continue as necessary,” according to a notice posted on the state Environment Department’s website Thursday. The department has until Nov. 23 to make a decision on whether to issue the permit, according to NMED spokesperson Drew Goretzka…