ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Deb Haaland announced last week that she will sign a moratorium on new data centers until state level protections are in place.

Haaland laid out 8 state level protections that she will need to work with the legislature to pass. KOB asked Haaland last week whether she would lift the moratorium even if she didn’t get everything on her list accomplished. The exchange can be read below:

Blake Troli: “So do you plan to break this up into different bills? Have one super bill on this and then on top of that is there a threshold here in the sense of if you don’t get everything done on that list, you highlighted a pretty lengthy list. Are you gonna hold that moratorium?”

Deb Haaland: “Well, as I stated in my remarks, the moratorium will go in on day one, likely through an executive order or something of that nature and then, and then we’ll work to pass a bill, in the very first…you know the 2027 session.

Blake Troli: “But if, Let’s say you get 80 % of what you laid out done, will you still hold the moratorium?”

Deb Haaland: “That remains to be seen, right? I, I can’t. I can’t know what, what I don’t know at this moment, but I’m happy to gauge the work that we’ve been able to accomplish at that time and, and make a decision then.”

Gregg Hull’s position

Haaland’s competitor, Republican Gregg Hull, told KOB last week he supports legislation to protect water and electricity rates, but is opposed to a statewide moratorium. Hull’s proposed legislation would ban data centers from using potable waters and require data centers to build their own electrical infrastructure. Hull tells KOB he would use state business incentives as a negotiating lever to get data centers to comply with water and electricity protections before such laws would be passed. He argues without the incentives data centers would not want to do business in New Mexico.

Haaland’s proposals

Haaland’s list of protections:

1. No backroom deals, strong community benefits: Open, transparent, and meaningful conversations without NDAs so that communities have a say ahead of decisions, and ensure strong benefits that support schools, roads, infrastructure, workforce, and meet community needs. Formal Tribal consultation is imperative, as is robust monitoring, follow-up, community oversight bodies, and enforcement by state agencies, including clawbacks for failing to meet their promises.
2. No utility rate increases & reliable energy for New Mexicans: Require data centers to build their own renewable energy infrastructure to keep energy costs from passing onto consumers and local communities, while also improving energy reliability. 
3. Protect New Mexico’s water: Require closed-loop systems and the best available technology to protect New Mexico’s clean water supply. Place effective penalties on any industry overuse or water waste. 
4. New Mexico jobs for New Mexico workers: Projects must be built and run with New Mexico labor, ensuring New Mexicans get job opportunities first, that those jobs are union, and that they meet prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates. Invest in local pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeship programs in partnership with labor unions. Set in-state workforce targets to train New Mexicans and grow the local workforce. 
5. Expand renewable energy: Require data centers meet New Mexico’s renewable energy and zero-carbon requirements with restrictions on economic incentives and strong clawbacks in place if these standards are not met. 
6. Clean air, land, and habitat: Robust and practical plans to ensure data centers don’t harm our water, air, or environment. Protections for communities that are disproportionately impacted by irresponsible development, and adherence to clean air standards, noise limits, light pollution restrictions, habitat protections, and more.  
7. Clean up your mess: Any industry in New Mexico should clean up after themselves. We will require decommissioning bonds so that data centers clean up after their mess, and we avoid repeating the tragic history that led to our landscapes being littered with orphaned oil and gas wells.
8. Accountable to communities: Data centers must go above and beyond these guardrails to be eligible for aid from state business programs, and will pay every penny back if they don’t keep their promises.

For Related Stories: Blake Troli  Decision 2026  Project Jupiter