Delegation Fights to Establish Facebook Facility in NM, Underscores Los Lunas as Prime Location for New Data Center

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairwoman Valerie Espinoza, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham underscored Los Lunas, N.M., as a prime location for Facebook to build its new data center. The new facility is planned to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, either wind or solar, and would create hundreds of jobs in the state. 

"A Facebook data center in New Mexico has the potential to provide over $500 million in capital investment for construction and over $20 million in annual operation expenditures in local wages and compensation over the lifetime of the facility," the lawmakers wrote. "Los Lunas is an excellent site for a Facebook data center with convenient interstate access and infrastructure already in place. The state has been a leader in clean energy development, making New Mexico an ideal fit for the data center, which is planned to be powered with one hundred percent renewable energy."

Facebook, which has more than 1.6 billion users, is deciding whether to build its new center in New Mexico or Utah. The lawmakers are encouraging the PRC to help secure Facebook's new facility for New Mexico.

"We believe New Mexico requires strong leaders to create new opportunities that will fulfill the promises of economic recovery. We encourage you to act--as permitted by the Commission's rules and regulations--to do what is appropriate to help secure new investments in the state's future and to support Los Lunas' bid to bring Facebook to New Mexico," the lawmakers continued.

A copy of the letter is available here and below: 

Dear Chairwoman Espinoza:

We write in strong support of Facebook's efforts to locate a new data center in the Village of Los Lunas. Los Lunas is an ideal location for opening a new data center to meet growing demand from more than one billion daily active Facebook users and to support new jobs and infrastructure in Central New Mexico.

A Facebook data center in New Mexico has the potential to provide over $500 million in capital investment for construction and over $20 million in annual operation expenditures in local wages and compensation over the lifetime of the facility. Moreover, the data center would provide for hundreds of new jobs in construction and indirect employment across the state. Aside from the resulting collection of state and local taxes, this direct spending would also lead to indirect increases in spending in local business and on local services. 

Los Lunas is an excellent site for a Facebook data center with convenient interstate access and infrastructure already in place. The state has been a leader in clean energy development, making New Mexico an ideal fit for the data center, which is planned to be powered with one hundred percent renewable energy. From one of the first renewable portfolio standards in the nation, to cutting edge research on energy saving breakthrough technology at Department of Energy national labs--this facility would reinforce New Mexico's status as a frontrunner in clean energy, and could lead to further opportunities in this industry sector. 

Finally, New Mexico is competing with Utah to secure a commitment from Facebook, and Utah's public service commission is expected to complete their review by August 31. We believe New Mexico requires strong leaders to create new opportunities that will fulfill the promises of economic recovery. We encourage you to act--as permitted by the Commission's rules and regulations--to do what is appropriate to help secure new investments in the state's future and to support Los Lunas' bid to bring Facebook to New Mexico. 

Thank you for your consideration and for all that you do to ensure fair, reasonable and adequate services to the people of our state.

Sincerely,