Overview

• Commissioners passed the ordinance after a marathon meeting that drew protests and calls for delay, including a formal request from Sunland Park.
• The approval authorizes issuance and sale of up to $165 billion in industrial revenue bonds and grants a 30‑year property tax abatement.
• The proposed campus near Santa Teresa targets an initial $50 billion investment within five years, with construction expected to start in late 2025 pending permits and bond issuance.
• County projections cite at least 750 full‑time jobs and 50 part‑time roles within three years with average pay of $75,000–$100,000, plus about 2,500 construction jobs during 2025–2028.
• County materials describe closed‑loop cooling averaging about 20,000 gallons of water per day, a dedicated microgrid with natural‑gas generation and large‑scale batteries, and pledges of $50 million for water and wastewater infrastructure and $6.9 million for community funds, even as residents question water, power and transparency.