Deb Haaland Backs Temporary Moratorium on Data Centers, Demands Protections for New Mexico’s Water and Communities

Former U.S. Interior Secretary and New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) announced support for a temporary moratorium on new large-scale data center projects until the state adopts binding accountability standards to protect local communities, water resources and the power grid.

Why the Pause?

Haaland framed the moratorium as a precautionary pause to address rapid data center growth and its potential consequences for New Mexico’s scarce water supply, electrical infrastructure and cost of living. She emphasized that the moratorium would not overturn existing county-level bans but would create uniform statewide protections before further approvals proceed.

Eight Areas of Required Protections

Haaland’s plan lays out eight specific areas developers must meet before projects move forward:

• Community Transparency and Benefits: Developers must hold open, meaningful consultations with affected communities and Tribal governments, end non-disclosure agreements that block public participation, and invest in local priorities such as schools, roads and workforce development. The plan calls for ongoing monitoring, community oversight, enforcement by state agencies and clawbacks if commitments are not delivered.
• Protection From Utility Rate Increases: Projects should include on-site renewable energy development and grid reliability measures so data center power demands do not raise local residential rates.
• Water Conservation: Data centers would be required to use closed-loop cooling and the best available technologies to minimize water withdrawals, with penalties for excessive use or waste to protect regional water supplies.
• Jobs for New Mexico Workers: Construction and operations would prioritize in-state hiring, with commitments to union jobs, prevailing wages, fringe benefits and investment in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs developed with labor partners.
• Renewable Energy Expansion: Projects must comply with New Mexico’s renewable energy and zero-carbon goals. Access to economic incentives would be limited for projects that do not meet these standards, with clawbacks if targets are unmet.
• Clean Air, Land and Habitat Protections: Developers must present comprehensive plans to avoid harm to water, air, land and wildlife habitats, including measures on air quality, noise, light pollution and protections for disproportionately affected communities.
• Decommissioning Requirements: Operators would post decommissioning bonds to ensure proper dismantling and site restoration, avoiding abandoned infrastructure and environmental liabilities similar to orphaned oil and gas wells.
• Community Accountability: To qualify for state business assistance, projects must exceed these guardrails. Developers who fail to meet commitments would be required to repay state aid.

Context and Credentials

Haaland’s campaign framed the plan as a response to concerns about opaque development agreements and the strain large data centers can place on local resources. She highlighted her record in the Biden administration, saying she directed more than $10 billion in investments to New Mexico through infrastructure, conservation and clean energy programs, including $95 million toward water conservation projects while serving as Interior secretary.

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, Haaland said.

The proposal is presented as a statewide framework to balance economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and community protection as New Mexico considers future data center approvals.