Haaland Backs Data Center Moratorium, Outlines Accountability Plan to Stand Up for New Mexico’s Water and Communities

Campaign Media Release – From the Campaign of Deb Haaland for Governor of New Mexico

Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, Deb Haaland, who is running to be the next Governor of New Mexico, announced her plan to hold data centers accountable and her support of a moratorium on new large-scale projects until clear guardrails are established. The plan directly addresses growing concern over data centers, the state’s water crisis, and the rising cost of living. 

Haaland is proposing the following protections for New Mexico communities, which are only a starting point and do not impact the current county moratoriums, but instead make sure all New Mexicans can rely on the state to stand up for them: 

1. No backroom deals, strong community benefits: Open, transparent, and meaningful conversations without NDAs so that communities have a say ahead of decisions, and ensure strong benefits that support schools, roads, infrastructure, workforce, and meet community needs. Formal Tribal consultation is imperative, as is robust monitoring, follow-up, community oversight bodies, and enforcement by state agencies, including clawbacks for failing to meet their promises.
2. No utility rate increases & reliable energy for New Mexicans: Require data centers to build their own renewable energy infrastructure to keep energy costs from passing onto consumers and local communities, while also improving energy reliability. 
3. Protect New Mexico’s water: Require closed-loop systems and the best available technology to protect New Mexico’s clean water supply. Place effective penalties on any industry overuse or water waste. 
4. New Mexico jobs for New Mexico workers: Projects must be built and run with New Mexico labor, ensuring New Mexicans get job opportunities first, that those jobs are union, and that they meet prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates. Invest in local pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs in partnership with labor unions. Set in-state workforce targets to train New Mexicans and grow the local workforce. 
5. Expand renewable energy: Require data centers meet New Mexico’s renewable energy and zero-carbon requirements with restrictions on economic incentives and strong clawbacks in place if these standards are not met. 
6. Clean air, land, and habitat: Robust and practical plans to ensure data centers don’t harm our water, air, or environment. Protections for communities that are disproportionately impacted by irresponsible development, and adherence to clean air standards, noise limits, light pollution restrictions, habitat protections, and more.  
7. Clean up your mess: Any industry in New Mexico should clean up after themselves. We will require decommissioning bonds so that data centers clean up after their mess, and we avoid repeating the tragic history that led to our landscapes being littered with orphaned oil and gas wells.
8. Accountable to communities: Data centers must go above and beyond these guardrails to be eligible for aid from state business programs, and will pay every penny back if they don’t keep their promises.

“New Mexicans are right to be concerned about the fast-paced growth of data centers. Our communities should be protected. That’s why I support a moratorium on data centers until the state adopts clear and transparent accountability measures for this industry. New Mexico has the opportunity to lead the way on how to protect our communities, safeguard our water, boost our economy, and sustain our environment for generations to come,” Haaland said. 

Like many New Mexicans, Haaland shares concerns about protecting our water, air, and land and the lack of transparency involved with data center projects. As the state faces rapid data center development, Haaland will address New Mexicans’ desire for strong, clear, statewide protections and a moratorium to ensure that these projects do not harm our communities or natural resources. Throughout this campaign, Haaland has committed to putting people over profit and reining in unfettered development, continuing her record as a leader who stands up for New Mexicans.

As Secretary of the Interior, Haaland invested over $10 billion into New Mexico through infrastructure projects, conservation initiatives, and clean energy. She also directed $95 million specifically toward projects focused on water conservation, demonstrating a strong record of action in safeguarding New Mexico’s most precious resources.