The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners met on May 26 and unanimously approved several agenda items, including a proclamation affirming the dignity, safety, and human rights of all LGBTQIA2S+ persons.
The proclamation honored the life and memory of Juniper Blessing. It calls upon 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. Commissioner Camilla Bustamante said, “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.”
Commissioners also approved a letter supporting changes to Waste Isolation Pilot Plant permits that would require cleanup of more legacy waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory. 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.”
During the meeting, commissioners discussed enacting a 12-month moratorium on data centers within Santa Fe County. Presentations highlighted that modern data centers are growing in size to accommodate artificial intelligence needs; one facility can match a small city’s energy demands. Projections show their proliferation could account for a 20% increase in nationwide energy demand by 2030. Presenters noted that some centers use self-sourced power systems such as gas turbines, which are not covered under New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act requirements for zero carbon power.
Commissioners were encouraged to consider impacts related to rates, water use, infrastructure upgrades, workforce development commitments, and environmental effects before approving any future projects. A final hearing is scheduled for June 30, with opportunities for public comment; if adopted, the moratorium would pause new data center development while staff develop best practices.
Santa Fe County operates under a Board of County Commissioners with administrative oversight provided by a county manager; its services extend across incorporated municipalities as well as unincorporated areas throughout the region. The county offers services in public safety, health care, human services, public works and community development while promoting transparent governance through public meetings and access to documents according to the official website.
