Penelope Loyd Sment - The Daily Lobo

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New Mexico Supreme Court stays on key aspects of Project Jupiter lifted

Penelope Loyd Sment | September 28

On Aug. 23, the New Mexico Supreme Court paused proceedings for Project Jupiter, the hyperscale data center under construction in Doña Ana County, temporarily halting their air quality permit hearing and ability to draw water from a well in Sunland Park, NM. The court lifted the stay on Sept. 17, seven days after denying the project developer’s motion to vacate the stay. All five justices in the court agreed to lift the stay and deny emergency petitions filed by New Energy Economy and the Center for Biological Diversity, allowing hearing proceedings for the air quality permit and water use from the well to continue. The court did not provide further explanation for their decision to deny the petitions. Colin Cox, an attorney for the Center of Biological Diversity, called the emergency petitions “unusual” and said it was “very rare” for the Court to grant the stay. “It’s exceedingly rare that we even got that,” Cox told the Daily Lobo. “It’s also typical for them to issue this sort of thumbs-up, thumbs-down decision without any explanation.”

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New Mexico among six states to secure early primary election spots

Penelope Loyd Sment | September 14

New Mexico officially became the fourth among the first six states to secure a spot in the upcoming presidential primary, after the new election schedule was officiated by a vote from the Democratic Party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee on July 24. Since 2011, New Mexico’s primary election has been scheduled for the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June of each even-numbered year. For the 2028 presidential primary, New Mexicans will be voting on February 15.

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NM Supreme Court pauses key elements of Project Jupiter development

Penelope Loyd Sment | September 2

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the New Mexico Supreme Court paused two key elements of Project Jupiter — the hyperscale AI datacenter being constructed in Doña Ana County — after non-profit New Energy Economy and the Center for Biological Diversity filed emergency petitions, challenging the constitutionality of the project’s air permit hearing and the approval of well drilling, respectively. The court decided to stay emergency drilling of a well intended to supply the data center, as well as the air quality permit proceedings that have evoked public discontent for allegedly being unfairly expedited. The court has set a response date of Sept. 2 for the agencies involved to present evidence and legal arguments.

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Protesters rally at NMED office over Project Jupiter air quality permit, secrecy

Penelope Loyd Sment | August 24

On Friday, Aug. 21, over 100 protesters gathered outside the New Mexico Environment Department building in Santa Fe, urging NMED not to approve the air quality permit application for Project Jupiter, which would allow the construction of two power-generation microgrids needed to create 2.45 gigawatts of electricity for AI infrastructure. Members of Youth United for Climate Crisis Action led the demonstration, during which residents from across New Mexico came carrying signs with phrases such as “Our children can’t drink data,” “Water is for living beings, not for Project Jupiter” and chanting “We need clean air, not another billionaire.”

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Project Jupiter: where the AI data center project stands in NM

Penelope Loyd Sment | August 17

The proposed hyperscale AI data center Project Jupiter has sparked controversy across New Mexico since it was first announced in February 2025. The massive endeavour that was approved 4-1 by the Doña Ana Board of County Commissioners in September 2025 is projected to cover 1,400 acres in Santa Teresa and emit more greenhouse gases than Albuquerque and Las Cruces combined, according to Source NM. Stack and BorderPlex Digital Assets are constructing and developing the project, with an estimated price tag of $165 billion. It is actively under construction, but facing legal obstacles after being denied permission to build the “robust natural gas pipeline” needed for the project by Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and an active investigation by the NM Department of Justice for fraudulent public comment submissions.

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Earth Month: NM environmental leaders talk sustainability

Penelope Loyd Sment | April 20

This Earth Month, two sustainability activists spoke about the efforts the University of New Mexico has been taking to address the climate crisis and its role in environmental issues. While the University’s efforts have been a good start, there is still more work to do, they said. The clearest example of action taken by UNM on environmental matters is the University’s strategic sustainability plan, released in October 2025, with goals set to be accomplished by 2030. The plan outlines multiple objectives for both transforming campus operations and building sustainability engagement and culture on campus. The goals tackle energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, waste management, transportation and limiting waste in food and dining.

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Lawsuit alleges UNM failed to maintain public records

Penelope Loyd Sment | March 9

Thomas Newsome, a retired journalist and University of New Mexico alum, is suing the University alleging that they’ve failed to meet their obligation to document their activities involving public business resulting in the denial or obstruction of Newsome’s right to access these records. The lawsuit, which was filed on Feb. 26, claims UNM violated the Inspection of Public Records Act. The lawsuit alleges a pattern of poor records management on the part of UNM in denying the public access to records they have a legal right to see. Examples of poor management outlined include failure to locate documents, identify which records exist and if requested records exist at all.

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A recap of the 2026 Legislature’s important bills

Penelope Loyd Sment | March 2

On Feb. 19, the New Mexico Legislature adjourned their 30-day session, the last to be overseen by the outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. According to a press release from the Office of the Governor, the three cornerstone priorities of the governor were medical malpractice reform, mental health commitment and universal child care. Here are some of the most impactful bills that could affect New Mexicans.

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Bill forbidding state partnership with immigration officials signed

Penelope Loyd Sment | February 23

On Feb. 5, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Immigrant Safety Act into law after passing both the Senate and the House, largely along party lines. With the passing of the bill, New Mexico joins eight other states that have recently passed legislation limiting state involvement in federal immigration proceedings, according to ACLU New Mexico. The new law will go into effect in May, and prohibits public bodies, such as state or county entities, from entering into or continuing agreements with federal immigration officials in detaining individuals for civil immigration violations and prohibits the use of public land for immigration detention centers, like those existing in Torrance, Cibola and Otero Counties. Also prohibited is the deputizing of local law enforcement as immigration officers.

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UNM study finds over $1 billion generated by Albuquerque creative economy

Penelope Loyd Sment | February 23

For the first time since 2014, a comprehensive study was conducted on Albuquerque’s creative economy, finding 17,680 workers directly employed by 2,457 creative businesses generating $1.1 billion in economic output in 2024. The sector makes up 4.4% of all local employment, the study found. Administered by the University of New Mexico’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research, in partnership with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Arts and Culture, the study defines the creative economy as the economic growth generated by producing and consuming art and other intellectual property with the value of these goods and services determined by the creators’ level of skill, expertise and talent.