A Data Center Wrapped in a Mystery Comes to the New Mexican Desert – The New York Times December 7 2025

A proposed $165 billion data center project, Project Jupiter, by BorderPlex in New Mexico has sparked controversy due to its ambitious scale and lack of transparency. Local residents express concerns over environmental impacts, including past arsenic contamination in water, while the project promises economic benefits like job creation and tax breaks. The approval process was expedited, leading to public outcry and protests, as many feel the deal favors the company over community interests. Despite skepticism, the project aims to position New Mexico as a hub for AI-related infrastructure amidst a nationwide data center boom.