A KOB poll found adults in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District oppose Project Jupiter by 21 points.
SUNLAND PARK, N.M. – A KOB poll found adults in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District oppose Project Jupiter by 21 points.
45% said the costs outweigh the benefits, while 24% said the reverse.
37% of respondents say the costs outweigh the benefits by a lot, while 8% say by a little.
15% said the benefits outweigh the costs by a lot, while 9% say by a little.
Another 9% said the costs and benefits would be about equal, and 22% say they do not know enough about Project Jupiter to say one way or the other.
What would make people more likely to support Project Jupiter?
When asked what would make people most likely to support Project Jupiter, 25% said verified limits on water use, energy use and air emissions would have the most impact.
10% said enforceable commitments for permanent local jobs and wages would matter most, and another 10% said enforceable funding commitments for local schools, roads, water systems and public services would have the most impact.
Only 7% said they already support the project as it is currently proposed.
The largest group, 29%, said none of those options would make them likely to support Project Jupiter.
Bipartisan opposition to Project Jupiter
Opposition to Project Jupiter can be found across party lines in Congressional District 2, though opposition appears stronger on the left side of the aisle.
36% of self-described conservatives, 52% of self-described moderates, and 58% of self-described liberals were opposed to Project Jupiter. They said the costs would outweigh the benefits of the data center.
On the other side, 31% of self-described conservatives, 19% of self-described moderates, and 21% of self-described liberals voiced support for Project Jupiter. They said the benefits would outweigh the costs.
9% of self-described conservatives, 9% of self-described moderates, and 6% of self-described liberals said the costs and benefits would be equal.
23% of self-described conservatives, 17% of self-described moderates, and 15% of self-described liberals noted they didn’t know enough about Project Jupiter to have an opinion.
National backlash and liability
The polling is reflective of bipartisan backlash toward data centers, though President Donald Trump has continued to voice support for the issue.
“The only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor. If they want to be successful and rich, with far lower taxes and jobs all over the place, let Data Reign,” the president wrote in a social media post earlier this week.
The president’s stance is at odds with a significant segment of his party. Republican politicians including Texas governor Greg Abbott are calling for restrictions. Nationwide, a July Fox News poll found 60% of Republicans and 53% of MAGA voters are opposed to data centers.
On the left side of the aisle, some union leaders who usually back Democrats have voiced support for data centers. But they face opposition from environmental advocates who form a significant segment of the party’s base.
