New Mexico Students Protest Data Center Construction and AI Expansion
Students across New Mexico, notably from the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe, participated in walkouts and protests against the construction of data centers and the expansion of artificial intelligence. Protests also took place in Las Cruces…
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, October 28, 2026 —
Students in several New Mexico communities have taken part in walkouts and protests opposing data center construction and the expansion of artificial intelligence. Participants included students from the New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe. Protests were also reported in Las Cruces and Albuquerque.
The students raised concerns about the substantial amount of water used by data centers and the facilities’ potential environmental impact. They also argued that the projects could conflict with New Mexico’s identity. Among their demands was a halt to projects such as “Project Jupiter.”
The demonstrations brought together concerns about resource use, environmental effects and the direction of development in the state. The available information does not specify how many students participated, when the walkouts or protests occurred, or whether the events took place on the same day. It also does not identify the organizers or provide statements from data center developers, public officials or other parties involved.
No further details were provided about Project Jupiter, including its location, scale, development status or the organizations associated with it. The available account also does not say whether any project plans have changed in response to the protests. As described, the students’ action centers on opposition to data center construction and AI expansion, with water consumption, environmental impact and the projects’ perceived fit with New Mexico’s identity among the concerns they cited.
Story summarized from the original created by By Lily Alexander and Julia Gentin on searchlightnm.org, see more information here.
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