A Doña Ana County resident asks what commissioners knew when they approved the project — and whether they would make the same decision today

Michelle Uribe

After watching the Doña Ana County Commission meeting Sept. 8 regarding Project Jupiter, I walked away with more questions.

I say this respectfully. I understand that our county commissioners have difficult decisions to make. I also believe economic development, good jobs and new opportunities can be important for the future of Doña Ana County.

But as a resident and community member, I cannot ignore what I heard.

There were serious questions about electricity, the microgrid, air quality, water, permits, drought, accountability and the roles of companies like Bloom Energy and Oracle.

As I listened, one question kept coming back to me:

How was a yes vote reached when so many important questions are still being asked?

I do not ask that question out of anger or disrespect. I ask it because these decisions affect our families, our communities, our natural resources and future generations that will come after us.

Did our commissioners know the full extent of Bloom Energy’s and Oracle’s involvement when they voted? What did they know about the project’s water and electricity demands? What protections are in place during a severe drought? Who will be held accountable if commitments are not met?

These are questions I believe should have been asked, answered, documented and clearly explained to the public before a final vote was taken.

I would respectfully ask every commissioner who supported Project Jupiter some simple questions:

What did you know when you voted yes? What did you not know? And why did you believe you had enough information to make that decision?

After hearing the questions being raised now, would you make the same decision today?

I am not against progress. I am not against jobs. And I am certainly not against people working together to build a stronger Doña Ana County.

But progress should never require the public to stop asking questions.

We can be respectful to our elected officials while still expecting transparency and accountability from them. In fact, I believe asking difficult questions is part of caring about our community.

Doña Ana County is our children’s home and our grandchildren’s home. We all have a responsibility to protect its future.

And sometimes that begins simply by asking, “Why?”

Respectfully,

Michelle Uribe

Michelle Uribe is a Doña Ana County resident.