New Mexico spent millions drafting climate goals. Data centers are unraveling them

Three data centers in New Mexico and El Paso will release more emissions yearly than 2 million cars in the same timeframe.

1 minute read

October 19, 2026, 8:00 AM PDT

By Zachary Whalen


A rendering of Meta's proposed data center. We see the large gray buildings from above.

A rendering of Meta’s planned data center in El Paso. Data centers release nitrogen oxides and particular matter, which are harmful to people. | Meta

Months ago, New Mexico and El Paso spent millions to draft reports on how their respective regions could address climate change and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Neither plan took data centers into account. Oracle is building one of the largest data centers in the country in New Mexico; two more are planned for El Paso. These three data centers will release more yearly emissions than 2 million cars in the same timeframe.

Diego Mendoza-Moyers writes for El Paso matters:

The data centers are “going to undo a lot of the very expensive and very meaningful work a lot of people are doing,” New Mexico state climatologist Dave DuBois told El Paso Matters.

The data centers will also release nitrogen oxides and particular matter, which are harmful to people. While El Paso’s data centers will be minutes from New Mexico, because they will be located in Texas, New Mexico officials cannot regulate their air pollution or noise. 

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in El Paso Matters

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