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SOCORRO 鈥� After more than two months of public opposition to the proposed Green Data Center project, the Socorro County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data centers and related infrastructure.

Green Data, a Canadian company, had proposed a 10-gigawatt solar and data center project in Socorro, in collaboration with New Mexico Tech, on 10,000 acres west of M Mountain and north of U.S. 60.

According to Jason Bak, CEO of Green Data, the data center project would have generated 2 gigawatts of base-load power, with a goal of delivering 100 megawatts per month. The project included battery storage for a 24/7 operation and water-neutral design using atmospheric water generation.

The vote came a week after New Mexico Tech and Green Data announced a mutual pause on the project following public opposition at a town hall meeting. In a statement, NMT cited the complexity of the issues involved while leaving open the possibility of revisiting the project in the future.

Commissioners heard comments from 14 county residents who supported the moratorium and urged the county to protect water resources, ranch land and scientific assets such as the Very Large Array radio telescope facility.

Many speakers thanked commissioners for holding the hearing and listening to community concerns. The moratorium includes the formation of a Blue Ribbon Committee to study the issue.

The final speaker during public comment was Bak.

Bak said the company welcomed both the moratorium process and the creation of the Blue Ribbon Committee.

"We understand that some Socorro County residents are skeptical," Bak said. "That skepticism is being reflected by opposition to other projects across the country, but we're not other projects across the country."

Bak argued that the Green Data project differs from controversial data center developments elsewhere in the nation. He promised transparency and said the project could generate about $50 million annually in direct community benefits, create well-paying jobs and potentially attract suppliers to the region.

"We appreciate your attention to the project and your commitment to Socorro County, and the fact that you're having an open process like this that allows people to comment on it. Thank you," Bak said.

When commissioners unanimously approved the moratorium, the crowd of more than 80 attendees responded with applause.

After the vote, Bak said he supported the county's decision and was interested in participating in the Blue Ribbon Committee.

"We welcome the board's plan to create a panel of experts and policymakers to study the issue of developing these new technologies in a way that protects the environment and benefits the community," Bak said.

Asked whether Green Data could revisit a partnership with NMT or pursue the project independently, Bak said the company remains focused on participating in the public process and listening to community concerns.

"We're not going to make any decisions," Bak said. "We'll participate in the process and get a sense of what emerges from the moratorium."

Cecilia Rosacker, executive director of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust and spokesperson for Inform Socorro, a grassroots organization born out of the data center proposal, said the moratorium was a big win for Socorro County.

鈥淲e want to ensure all energy development 鈥� renewable or not 鈥� is implemented in an environmentally conscious manner and the corporations are held accountable for the environmental impacts now and the future and their project proposals bring generous community benefits,鈥� Rosacker said.

She said Inform Socorro intends to ask the city of Socorro to also adopt a data center moratorium that includes renewable energy development.