ALBUQUERQUE — Earlier this week, the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Center for Biological Diversity, and Food & Water Watch filed a protest with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) challenging the Transwestern Pipeline Company’s attempt to fast-track the proposed Green Chile Pipeline. The 17-mile pipeline in Doña Ana County would provide gas to a new, massively-polluting power plant for the proposed “Project Jupiter” data center. 

The organizations argue that Transwestern cannot proceed under a FERC “blanket certificate,” which is essentially a rubber-stamp permit that automatically approves minor projects and repairs; rather, FERC must instead conduct a full review of the project as required by section 7 of the National Gas Act. The organizations also urge FERC to deny the application under section 7 because it is contrary to the public interest. 

In March, the New Mexico State Land Office denied Transwestern’s application for their project to cross state land, forcing the company to reroute a section of the pipeline. It is not possible for FERC to fully consider Transwestern’s application without knowing the exact route, and key information such as the cost of the project and the expected environmental impacts. If the reroute were to increase the cost of construction by even by 2.5%, it would no longer qualify for a blanket certificate review. 

STATEMENTS

Camilla Feibelman, Director of Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
“To approve this pipeline without a thorough and conclusive review could be a disaster for New Mexico families and their communities. We urge FERC to pace themselves and not allow major polluting industries, such as data centers, to skirt regulations when so much is at risk.”

Gail Evans, New Mexico Climate Director, Center for Biological Diversity 

“We’re urging FERC to reject this pipeline because it would harm both people’s health and the environment. Its sole purpose is to feed a massive new gas plant that would produce twice as much air pollution as Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces combined, just to serve a huge data center. New Mexicans are already burdened by extensive oil and gas infrastructure. It’s time to move away from filthy fossil fuels and invest in clean energy.” 

Morgan O’Grady, Staff Attorney, Western Environmental Law Center 

“Transwestern’s efforts to fast-track this proposed pipeline without environmental review are inappropriate given the massive impacts and uncertain future of the sole client it would serve, the Project Jupiter data center. Transwestern’s application is premature and should be rejected—New Mexicans do not need more stranded oil and gas infrastructure.”

Alexa Reynaud, Food & Water Watch Rural Organizing Manager, Food & Water Watch: “New Mexico has no need for more pipelines, and especially no need for more of this dangerous infrastructure to power the massive Project Jupiter data center. For too long, we have been treated as a sacrificial state, and this pipeline would only continue that legacy of corporate polluters taking our resources and threatening our air, land, and water. AI data centers – and the pipelines proposed to fuel them – have no place in New Mexico.”