SANTA TERESA, N.M. — The permitting process for Project Jupiter has encountered another obstacle after the hearing officer overseeing the project’s air permit proceedings recused himself following allegations of bias.
The move came after the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a motion seeking the hearing officer’s disqualification, arguing his rulings favored Project Jupiter’s developers and the New Mexico Environment Department.
The recusal adds to growing legal challenges surrounding Project Jupiter, a proposed large-scale data center development in southern New Mexico. Opponents of the project have raised concerns about its potential impacts on water resources, energy use, and the environment.
The development comes just days after the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a temporary stay halting portions of the project’s permitting process, including air permit hearings and water pumping activities, while the court considers a petition filed by clean energy advocacy group New Energy Economy.
Supporters and opponents of the project continue to battle in multiple legal and administrative proceedings, with additional court hearings scheduled in the coming weeks.
Project Jupiter remains on hold as those challenges move forward.
