The Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter submitted roughly 2,000 comments to Governor Katie Hobbs’s office this week, forwarding messages that had been filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in opposition to the proposed Desert Southwest Pipeline. The submitted comments originated primarily from residents in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico—states along the pipeline’s intended route.
The pipeline project would carry methane gas extracted from the Permian Basin to supply energy for data centers throughout the Southwest. Critics argue the infrastructure would damage regional water resources and commit the area to decades of fossil fuel dependence. According to tracking data cited by the Sierra Club, Arizona stands among the nation’s leading states for new gas-fired power plant development.
The pipeline has drawn particular scrutiny regarding its connection to Project Jupiter, a proposed data center facility in southern New Mexico. Opponents contend the facility would generate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the state’s three largest cities combined, consume as much electricity as New Mexico’s largest utility serves, and single-handedly eliminate emissions reductions the state achieved since 2005.
Governor Hobbs announced her support for the pipeline in May, framing the decision as beneficial to Arizona families. However, critics note this position conflicts with her own Energy Task Force Report, which documented concerns regarding gas infrastructure that were not addressed in her May announcement. Environmental justice advocates and union-aligned organizations have called on the governor to withdraw her endorsement, arguing the project would disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities while prioritizing corporate interests over public health and sustainability.
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