DONA ANA COUNTY, N.M. – (KFOX14/CBS4) — A proposed natural gas pipeline intended to supply fuel to the Project Jupiter data center’s on-site power generation is under federal review, with key decisions and public comment deadlines set for April 13.
According to the application, the Green Chile Pipeline Project would be a 17.7-mile, 24-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline that would serve only one customer: the Project Jupiter data center facility.
The company behind the proposal wants the pipeline operational by Aug. 15.
Project Jupiter is planned to include on-site power generation, with microgrids built on-site to avoid putting strain on the main power grid.
RELATED: Project Jupiter data center seeks air permits for two Santa Teresa microgrid facilities
The Project Jupiter development is currently seeking air quality permits from New Mexico’s Environment Department.
New Mexico environmental attorney David Baake said the pipeline would not be useful unless the microgrid permits are approved.
“It’s a huge, huge power plant, but I think it’s very premature for them to be seeking to obtain permission to start building this pipeline, because until the power plant is authorized, they cannot construct it,” Baake said.
The pipeline application was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The application states the pipeline would be built by Transwestern Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Houston-based Energy Transfer.
The project is expected to cost just over $60 million to build and would output more than 400,000 dekatherms of natural gas a day.
For comparison, according to the US Energy Information Administration, the average US household used .694 dekatherms in a year in 2020.
FULL APPLICATION:
Most of the project would be built on federal land, but a small section of just over a half-mile would require approval from the New Mexico State Land Office.
In a statement, spokesperson Joey Keefe said, “This right-of-way application must be approved before construction can begin on the segment of the pipeline that the company plans to run through state trust land.”
Keefe added, “No final decisions have been made regarding its approval at this time. The review process typically takes a few months to complete.”
The application shows Energy Transfer is asking to start construction on April 15, with a goal of being operational on Aug. 15.
FERC said it anticipates issuing an environmental assessment report and decision on April 13.
Public comment for the project is also set to close on April 13.
Baake said the pipeline would not be in the public interest unless the microgrid permits are approved.
“This is going to be the largest power plant in the whole state of New Mexico, a massive amount of gas being transferred on this pipeline,” Baake said.
“But if the power plant doesn’t get its permit, this could end up being a pipeline to nowhere.”
Energy Transfer did not respond to a request for comment about the project timeline.
To learn more about submitting public comment, click here.
RELATED: Project Jupiter ignites debate: Economic tech boom or ecological bane for Borderland?
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