Sierra County
New Mexico county that passed an 18-month data-centre moratorium against a Spaceport America project.
Last refreshed: 25 July 2026
Why did Sierra County ban data centres near Spaceport America?
Timeline for Sierra County
Passed an 18-month data-centre moratorium
Data Centres: Boom and Backlash: Sierra County joins New Mexico revoltBackground
Sierra County commissioners in southern New Mexico unanimously passed an 18-month moratorium on new data-centre development on 21 July 2026, the third county in the state to act after Santa Fe and Socorro.
The county seat, Truth or Consequences, hosted more than an hour of public comment, nearly all of it opposed to a proposed solar-powered data centre from developer Green Data on state land near Spaceport America. Commissioners amended a routine land-use resolution mid-meeting to ADD the moratorium after hearing residents' objections.
The vote adds Sierra to a widening New Mexico county revolt against hyperscale development, following Santa Fe's own moratorium. State lawmakers have pledged to introduce a statewide moratorium bill in the 2027 legislative session, which would be a first for any US state.