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New Mexico students walk out to protest data centers

Several cities · pinned on Santa Fe, United States · Oct 27, 2026

Is it still on?

NOIt was a one-day action on Oct 27.

Last report · checked

The Tea in three lines

Why they are protesting
Students and tribal leaders protested an energy permitting bill and new AI data center projects over environmental and water concerns.
What they want
They demanded accountability regarding energy permits, protection of indigenous lands, and a halt to AI data centers like Project Jupiter.
What changed
Oct 28: Governor's Office stated that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham received students' letters and shares some concerns.
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Both sides

What protesters want

  • Protect indigenous lands and water resources
  • Halt AI data center projects like Project Jupiter
  • Oppose the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act

Organised by: Sovereign Energy, Naeva

What authorities say

Governor's Office spokesperson Michael Coleman stated that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham received the students' letters, plans to read them, and respects the right to assemble and protest.2

The numbers

Only figures a source states, with who said it. Estimates often differ.

Crowd
200
about 200 NMSA students who walked out2

The full story

Hundreds of students and tribal leaders statewide walked out of class to protest U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act and the development of AI data centers such as Project Jupiter. Participants in cities including Albuquerque and Santa Fe voiced concerns about the environmental impact, fossil fuel projects, and the heavy water consumption of data centers in an arid region. In Santa Fe, more than 100 students from the New Mexico School for the Arts marched to the state Capitol, chanting and carrying signs. Protesters also addressed tribal sovereignty concerns regarding proposed energy projects on indigenous land. A spokesperson for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated that the governor received letters written by the students and respects the right to assemble and protest.

Timeline

  1. Governor's Office spokesperson Michael Coleman stated that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham received the students' letters and plans to review them.2

Pins sit on city centres, never on gathering points

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