Green Data solar-powered data center (Socorro, New Mexico Tech land)
A Canadian developer wanted a 2 GW data center with a huge solar farm on New Mexico Tech land near Socorro. After strong local opposition, the university dropped the plan in June 2026, though it said it could talk again later.
Where things stand: New Mexico Tech and the developer dropped the plan in June 2026 after public pushback; the county passed a one-year pause.
🕒 Latest update (June 9, 2026): Socorro County approved a one-year moratorium on data centers.
What we know
- 📍 WhereNew Mexico Tech land west of Socorro Peak, north of U.S. 60, Unincorporated Socorro County, Socorro County
- 🏢 CompanyGreen Data Centers (CEO Jason Bak)
- 🌳 Size10,000 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs2,000 megawatts (about as much as 1,600,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromA planned 10 GW solar farm with batteries.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Could the plan come back after the county moratorium ends? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- March 25, 2026The developer pitched the plan at a Socorro Electric Cooperative board meeting.
- June 2026New Mexico Tech said it would not go ahead with the developer.
- June 9, 2026Socorro County approved a one-year moratorium on data centers.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
County commissioners voted unanimously for a one-year pause on data centers and related projects on land outside towns. It also started a committee of experts and residents to suggest rules. Socorro County has no zoning. The vote came after months of pushback against the Green Data plan near New Mexico Tech. Commissioners first agreed on May 12 to consider the pause.
📌 Other
The Village of Magdalena passed a resolution against the proposed Green Data center and its solar farm, unless it is clearly shown the project will not harm water, nature or the town's character. It is a statement, not a rule. New Mexico Tech later named the resolution when it dropped the plan.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- Proposed data center causes concern within Socorro, New Mexico community · KRWG · May 1, 2026
- New Mexico Tech nixes data center proposal — for now · Source NM · June 2026
- Plans for 10,000-acre data center scrapped in Socorro, New Mexico · DatacenterDynamics · June 2026
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