New Mexico Supreme Court pauses Project Jupiter water well drilling, air permit proceeding

SANTA FE, N.M. (KVIA) -- Sunday, the New Mexico Supreme Court unanimously paused an air permit proceeding and water use from a new well for the Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa.

Documents said the court granted a stay in an Oct. 23, 2025, emergency drilling authorization permitting water use from a new well to construct Project Jupiter.

By granting a stay, the court temporarily froze the water use from the well. The Center for Biological Diversity against the New Mexico State Engineer and Santa Teresa Capital, LLC, filed the request for stay.

in a separate order, the court paused an air quality permit proceeding, documents said. This request for stay was granted in New Energy Economy against the New Mexico Environment Department.

The New Mexico Supreme Court further said a response should be filed by Sept. 2 in both orders.

In June, software company Oracle announced a new energy plan for Project Jupiter. It filed an application to use Bloom Energy fuel cell technology, replacing the original gas turbine and diesel generator design.

Oracle said the change would lower water use and emissions.

The software company also announced a new initiative to save more water than the data center uses. It said its initiative is expected to save 21 million gallons of water a year, or 20 times the amount needed to run cooling and power systems at Project Jupiter.

July 9, the New Mexico Department of Justice announced an investigation into allegations of fake public comments submitted during a public review period for the air quality permit.

NMDOJ said it would investigate Yucca Growth Infrastructure, which applied for the permit. The department said people alleged fake comments submitted under their names.