The Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW) supports the New Mexico Supreme Court’s August 23, 2026, decision to temporarily pause proceedings related to Project Jupiter, including its air quality permit hearing and certain water use associated with construction. 

In alignment with our mission, vision, and values, CSVANW recognizes that large-scale development can place additional strain on the land, water and resources that communities rely on. For CSVANW, the concerns surrounding Project Jupiter are not only about protecting our land and resources, but also about protecting our communities, prioritizing prevention, and addressing the potential for man camps and increased violence before harm occurs. 

When data centers are created, much of the conversation focuses on their environmental impact. But Native communities have long understood the relationship between the health of our lands and waters and the health of our people. How the environment is treated is often a reflection of how nearby communities will be treated. For Native people, protecting our land, water, and natural resources is inseparable from protecting the safety, wellbeing, and sovereignty of our communities. 

Across the United States, we have seen evidence of how rapid, large-scale oil projects can impact surrounding communities, and the outcomes are not good. Research examining oil-producing regions found that from 2006 to 2012, the rate of violent victimization, specifically aggravated assault, increased by 70% in oil-producing regions as the demand for workers led to the creation of man camps. 

Project Jupiter represents a new form of large-scale development in New Mexico. We cannot ignore lessons communities have already learned from other industries. We cannot allow cycles of exploitation and generational violence to persist. Protecting our land, water, and communities’ means centering prevention now, not responding to the harm after it has already happened.” 
 
CALL TO ACTION 

CSVANW calls on state leaders, agencies, decision-makers and residents across New Mexico to support transparent processes and meaningful community participation as decisions surrounding Project Jupiter continue. Our communities deserve the time, information and opportunity necessary to understand how largescale development may affect their lands, water, safety, and future. 

We call for the protections established by the New Mexico Supreme Court’s August 23 orders to remain in place while these questions are fully considered and the appropriate legal and regulatory processes move forward. 

Protecting our land and water means protecting our relatives. Prevention begins before harm occurs, and our communities deserve the opportunity to thrive, heal, and build healthy families for all future generations. 

Sources:

https://www.colorado.edu/program/tallgrass/2020/01/29/violence-extractive-industry-man-camps-endangers-indigenous-women-and-children

https://nypost.com/2026/06/09/business/plans-for-huge-man-camp-for-thousands-of-data-center-construction-workers-enrage-wyoming-locals/ 
 
https://sourcenm.com/2026/08/24/nm-supreme-court-temporarily-halt-project-jupiter-air-quality-permit-hearing/