New Mexico Supreme Court Cleared Project Jupiter Path
The court lifted two stays on September 17, 2026, regarding the data center project in Santa Teresa.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Data Centers
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On September 17, 2026, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued rulings that lifted two stays and denied petitions challenging Project Jupiter. The project is an artificial intelligence data center campus currently under construction in Santa Teresa.
Why it matters
The legal clearance moves the project forward despite ongoing scrutiny from local residents. Citizens have raised specific concerns regarding the data center's impact on local water usage, energy sources, air pollution, heat, and noise levels.
Project Jupiter is an artificial intelligence data center campus located in Santa Teresa, backed by Oracle and OpenAI. The Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners previously approved Industrial Revenue Bonds to support the facility.
The players
Susie Kimble
She serves as the District 3 Commissioner for Doña Ana County and was appointed to the position by the governor.
Michelle Lujan Grisham
She serves as the Governor of New Mexico and was responsible for the appointment of Susie Kimble.
Oracle
The multinational technology corporation is one of the primary partners backing the artificial intelligence data center project.
OpenAI
The artificial intelligence research organization is a co-backer of the Project Jupiter data center campus.
The details
The facility is currently being developed through oversight that includes various legal, financial, and regulatory avenues designed to enforce compliance. The project site in Santa Teresa continues to face public resistance while the commission prepares for upcoming changes in leadership.
Timeline
Shannon Reynolds resigned as District 3 Commissioner in December 2025.
Susie Kimble was appointed to the County Commission in February 2026.
The New Mexico Supreme Court issued its rulings on September 17, 2026.
The General Election for County Commissioner positions takes place in November 2026.
The Tech Race
The use of Industrial Revenue Bonds illustrates the competitive strategy municipalities use to attract major AI infrastructure. This model positions the facility within the broader trend of tech giants seeking specific tax and development incentives for data center construction.
Residents in the area will see the project move forward as the county continues its oversight of development compliance. Voters in Doña Ana County will also have the opportunity to influence commission leadership during the upcoming November 2026 General Election.
The takeaway
The court decision clears the immediate legal path for the development, effectively shifting the debate toward the upcoming local elections. Voters will soon decide which representatives will oversee the final phases of the project's compliance monitoring.
Further reading
For additional context on regional facility developments, see the Data Centers section.
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