CURRENT PRESS RELEASE
Final YGI Microgrid Comment with Attachments 07-02-2026
July 2, 2026
New Mexico Environment Department
Air Quality Bureau – Permitting Section
325 Camino de los Marquez, Ste. 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Re: Yucca Growth Infrastructure, LLC Initial NSR Application
Dear Permitting Program Staff:
Please accept this additional comment, demand for public hearing and demand for permit
application denial, submitted by the New Mexico Environmental Law Center on behalf of Jose
Saldaña Jr. and Vivian Fuller (hereinafter, “Community Members”), regarding Yucca Growth
Infrastructure, LLC’s (“YGI”) Initial NSR Application for the YGI Microgrid (“Application”).
Ultimately, YGI’s Application simply contains too many unknowns and provides far more
questions than answers that this Department must address prior to issuing any air pollution
permit at the expense of Southern New Mexico residents. In addition to the concerns and issues
raised in Community Members’ comment submitted on May 20, 2026,1 Community Members
urge the New Mexico Environment Department to deny YGI’s Application because YGI’s
Application is based on incomplete data and flawed assumptions; because issuing an air
pollution permit will violate provisions of the New Mexico Air Quality Control Act (“AQCA”),
NMSA 1978 § 74-2-1 et seq., and the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; and because
permitting the YGI facility will result in the Department’s perpetuation of environmental racism
against residents of Sunland Park and Santa Teresa, New Mexico. …
Read full comment.
Past Press Releases
Request for Hearing on Roca Honda MORP
Re: Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment and New Mexico Mining Watch
request for hearing on Roca Honda Resources, LCC’s Mining Operations and
Reclamation Plan, Permit No. MK025RN, Roca Honda Mine
Initial Letter re YGI Microgrid
Re: Yucca Growth Infrastructure, LLC Notice of Air Quality Permit Application – YGI
Microgrid
NMELC & NM WILD Motion to File and Amicus Curiae Brief Supporting Sandia Pueblo
NMELC & NM WILD Motion to File and Amicus Curiae Brief Supporting Sandia Pueblo filed on April 27, 2026
NMELC Lawsuit Against Doña Ana County Re Project Jupiter Funding Proceeds after Court Denies County Motion to Dismiss
Lawsuit on Behalf of Community Members Argues that County Violated the Law When Approving IRBs/LEDA Funding Based on Incomplete Information
Las Cruces, NM— Judge Jennifer DeLaney today denied Doña Ana County Commission’s motion to dismiss NMELC’s lawsuit against the County for its approval of tax incentives for Project Jupiter during a hearing held in the Third Judicial Court on Friday, March 20th. The decision is a victory for community members who will be harmed if the massive hyperscale data center moves forward. …
NM Mining Watch MORP Request for Hearing and Comments 2/17/26
February 17, 2026
Re: New Mexico Mining Watch comments on Mining Operations and Reclamation Plan and request for hearing on Permit No. CI008RN, La Jara Mesa Mine …
NMELC Files Lawsuit Against Doña Ana County Commission for Open Meetings Act Violations
NMELC FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST DOÑA ANA COUNTY COMMISSION FOR OPEN MEETING ACT VIOLATIONS COMMITTED DURING SEPTEMBER 19 PUBLIC HEARING ON PROJECT JUPITER
The Lawsuit Alleges That the Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners Unlawfully Closed its Public Meeting Without Notice to the Public
February 6, 2026
Las Cruces, NM—On Friday, February 6, 2026, New Mexico Environmental Law Center filed a second lawsuit against the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners in the Third Judicial District Court, for violating the New Mexico Open Meetings Act. …
Complaint for Violation of New Mexico Open Meetings Act–2-6-26
Complaint for Violation of New Mexico Open Meetings Act.
Read full complaint. …
Letter to NMED Re Language Access & Acoma, LLC West & East Microgrid Air Quality Permit Applications
Dear New Mexico Environment Department:
This letter is in regards to the two air quality permit applications submitted by Acoma, LLC, for its microgrid facility: ….
New Mexico Attorney General Joins 13 Other States in Affirming the Legality of Environmental Justice
NM Mining Watch Applauds NM Attorney General Raúl Torrez’s Endorsement of the “Multi-state Guidance Affirming the Importance and Legality of Environmental Justice Initiatives” —A Major Victory for NM Communities!
ALBUQUERQUE, NM—On Wednesday, January 21, 2026 New Mexico joined thirteen other states in uplifting the importance and legality of Environmental Justice in light of President Trump’s Executive Orders that had introduced confusion over the legality of Environmental Justice activities…..
Multi-State Guidance Affirming the Importance and Legality of Environmental Justice Initiatives
January 16, 2026
The Attorneys General of California, Massachusetts, and New York, joined by the Attorneys General of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont, issue this Guidance to affirm the importance and legality of efforts to advance environmental justice, which seek a healthy environment for all people across the United States in which to live, play, work, learn, and worship.
Southern NM Written Testimony for US House Committee on Small Business’ Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy and Supply Chains 1/21/26
January 21, 2026
WRITTEN TESTIMONY FOR THE RECORD BEFORE THE U.S. HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS’ SUBCOMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT, ENERGY, AND SUPPLY CHAINS
Community Members of Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, and Doña Ana County, New Mexico
Dear Chairman Williams, Subcommittee Chairman Ellzey, and members of the U.S. House Committee on Small Business’ Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Supply Chains:
NM Orgs Demand Public Transparency & Access Concerning Project Jupiter Air Quality Permits
January 20, 2026
Secretary James Kenney
New Mexico Environment Department
Air Quality Bureau
525 Camino de los Marquez, Ste. 1
Santa Fe, NM 87505
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Dear Secretary James Kenney and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham,
We, the undersigned organizations, write to express our concern regarding the significant risks to the public health and environment, public transparency, and regulatory accountability that Project Jupiter poses to residents of Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, Doña Ana County, and the state of New Mexico. …
12/15/25 Follow Up Letter to NMED -Acoma LLC Applications
Monday, December 15, 2025
Re: Request for Adequate Public Notice – Acoma LLC Permit Applications
Dear New Mexico Environment Department:
Thank you for your response to our December 12 letter, attached, expressing initial interest in Acoma, LLC’s two air pollution permit applications for the following facilities related to Project Jupiter …
12/12/25 Letter to NMED -Acoma LLC Applications
Friday, December 12, 2025
Dear New Mexico Environment Department:
Please accept this letter expressing initial interest in two air quality permit applications and corresponding Notices of Air Quality Permit Applications published in the Las Cruces Sun News on November 14, 2025. Acoma, LLC, announced its applications to the New Mexico Environment Department for two air quality permits for the construction of two neighboring microgrid facilities:
Local Community Sues Doña Ana County to Stop Billions of Tax Dollars Going to OpenAI Data Center
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Lawsuit Cites Project Jupiter’s Incomplete and Inadequate Application
Las Cruces, NM—On Friday, October 17, 2025, the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, on behalf of Empowerment Congress of Doña Ana County; José Saldaña Jr., resident of Sunland Park; and Vivian Fuller, resident of Santa Teresa, filed a lawsuit in the Third Judicial District Court against the Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners for their unlawful approval of three ordinances related to Project Jupiter, the massive hyperscale data center proposed in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. …
Click to read full press release.