Data Centers Spark Water Wars in Rio Grande Corridor

Data centers are sparking wildfire protests across the Rio Grande corridor as communities scream halt over water waste and environmental damage. Socorro County paused all new projects after public outcry forced New Mexico Tech to walk away from a solar-fueled plan, now forming a watchdog committee. In Doña Ana, Project Jupiter’s meeting turned chaotic — a job fair masquerading as public input — while construction barrels ahead under an air quality permit still open for comments. Project Jupiter insists they won’t touch drinking water, relying on a closed-loop system, though startup needs are thirsty. Over in El Paso, Meta’s $1.5 billion AI hub faces fierce resistance despite city council backing — residents fear straining already depleted water supplies. Meta promises net water gain by 2030, but daily demands of 1.5 million gallons leave many skeptical. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/f33ece9dfa42dcc4