New Mexico Senators Announce Project Jupiter Listening Session in Las Cruces
Doña Ana County residents looking for concrete answers regarding the massive Santa Teresa data center initiative will get a direct forum on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. A group of four New Mexico state senators has organized a public listening session to address persistent anxieties over air pollution, water consumption, shifting energy claims, and the overall transparency of Project Jupiter.
Pushing Back Against a Disputed Public Process
The upcoming gathering comes in direct response to what local lawmakers describe as an inadequate and misleading public outreach campaign. During an announcement held at La Llorona Park with the Rio Grande flowing behind them, Sens. Carrie Hamblen, Joseph Cervantes, Bill Soules, and Jeff Steinborn voiced sharp criticisms of how the project’s approvals have been handled thus far.
According to Organ Mountain News, Sen. Joseph Cervantes explained that while he initially remained open-minded after the Doña Ana County Commission approved industrial revenue bond capacity for the proposal, the engagement process shifted unexpectedly. Instead of a balanced public forum allowing residents to ask critical questions, Cervantes noted that a subsequent meeting held a few weeks prior functioned essentially as a job fair rather than an interactive Q&A session.
“The date was changed. And then the purpose was changed,” Cervantes stated, as reported by Organ Mountain News. “And then the meeting took place a few weeks ago, and there was not a listening session, there was not questions, there was not information. It was a job fair.”
Environmental Safeguards and Community Stakes
The senators selected La Llorona Park for their announcement to visually underscore the stakes involved for southern New Mexico’s rural and farming communities. Sen. Carrie Hamblen emphasized that the location was chosen deliberately, noting that the adjacent Rio Grande serves as a vital life force for the region.
“Behind us flows the Rio Grande, life force to many of our farming and rural communities,” Hamblen said, according to Organ Mountain News. “And although it’s quite bright out, we appreciate the clear blue skies that our region is known for.”
Lawmakers stressed that their presence at the podium was not an endorsement of the tech initiative. “Let me be clear: We are not here to support Project Jupiter,” Hamblen stated, via Organ Mountain News. “We share the same concerns that those who live and work in this area, many for generations, have about the future of their livelihoods should this move forward.”
Details for Tuesday’s Community Forum
The public listening session is scheduled for Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the third-floor ballroom at Corbett Center, according to Organ Mountain News and KVIA. Organizers confirmed that the event is completely free and open to the public.
The agenda centers squarely on state-level regulatory agencies responsible for issuing permits related to air quality, water resources, and energy demands tied to Project Jupiter. Lawmakers are actively inviting cabinet secretaries from the New Mexico Environment Department, the Office of the State Engineer, and other key state divisions to face constituents directly. As Cervantes noted, the goal is to collect community questions, present them directly to state leaders, and demand clear, accountable answers.
