The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners held its regular meeting on May 26, voting unanimously in favor of several agenda items. The meeting included a proclamation honoring the life and memory of Juniper Blessing, with commissioners affirming the dignity, safety, and human rights of all LGBTQIA2S+ persons.
The proclamation urges the State of New Mexico and all levels of government to strengthen protections for transgender individuals, fully fund hate crime prevention programs, and ensure that every person can live in safety regardless of gender identity or expression. “A just society is measured not by how it treats the powerful, but by how fiercely it protects those most vulnerable to hatred and exclusion,” said Commissioner Camilla Bustamante.
Commissioners also approved a letter to the New Mexico Environmental Department supporting permit changes requiring the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant to clean up more waste at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The proposed changes would require legacy waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory to make up 55% of total waste disposed at the site from 2027 to 2031, increasing to 75% in 2032. The letter stated, “The legacy waste buried at LANL’s Material Disposal Area G in Technical Area 54 poses an ongoing and serious threat to the environment and public health of northern New Mexico. Santa Fe County residents will be directly affected by LANL’s decisions regarding legacy waste.”
Commissioners discussed enacting a 12-month moratorium on data centers within Santa Fe County after presentations from policy advisors and Bernalillo County staff with experience on similar issues. While no applications are currently pending for data centers in Santa Fe County, commissioners said a pause would allow time to develop appropriate guidelines for future proposals. Presentations indicated that data centers are growing rapidly in size due to artificial intelligence demands; one center could be as large as a small city with significant energy needs. According to these presentations, their proliferation could account for a projected 20% increase in nationwide energy demand by 2030.
Concerns were raised about microgrids and self-sourced power systems used by some data centers, which may not fall under existing state utility regulations or requirements such as New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act. Commissioners were encouraged during discussion to consider impacts on rates, water resources, infrastructure upgrades, workforce development commitments, and environmental factors before permitting any projects.
A final hearing is scheduled for June 30, where public comment will be accepted before any action is taken regarding the proposed moratorium. Residents can access full meeting details through online summaries or recordings provided by Santa Fe County.
Santa Fe County promotes community engagement through public meetings and advisory boards; supports operations across administrative facilities; focuses on transparent governance; operates under an elected Board of Commissioners with oversight from a county manager; serves incorporated municipalities as well as unincorporated areas; and offers services including public safety, health care, human services, public works and community development, according to the official website.
