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Oracle issued a Request for Proposals on September 8 seeking up to 2 gigawatts of renewable energy projects in New Mexico, all tied to its massive Project Jupiter data center. The campus, being built for OpenAI as part of the broader Stargate AI infrastructure initiative, needs roughly 2.5 GW of power capacity to run.
The renewable energy is meant to offset the carbon footprint of Project Jupiter, not replace its actual power source. The data center will still draw its electricity from 2.45 GW of Bloom Energy solid oxide fuel cells that consume natural gas. The renewables, expected to come online between 2027 and 2031, are part of Oracle’s stated goal to achieve 100% carbon-free energy for the campus by 2031.
What Project Jupiter actually looks like
Project Jupiter is not a small operation. The campus spans 1,400 acres in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and carries a planned investment of up to $165 billion. It’s one of the centerpieces of the Stargate AI infrastructure project that President Donald Trump announced in 2025.
Construction is roughly 26% complete. The project has already generated nearly $100 million in state and local tax revenue and is projected to deliver over $4.7 billion in long-term economic impacts for the region. Oracle has also committed $50 million for local water infrastructure improvements.
The renewable energy RFP focuses on solar, wind, and geothermal sources. Oracle also announced a separate $1 million commitment to carbon capture and sequestration research.
The local opposition problem
Project Jupiter faces escalating community opposition and court battles over environmental concerns. A proposed natural gas pipeline called the “Green Chile Project,” which would have fed the data center’s energy infrastructure, was rejected. Air quality permit processes have also hit snags due to ongoing community pushback.
Oracle did make one meaningful change to its energy strategy in 2026, shifting away from gas turbines and diesel generators to Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cells. The company says this switch significantly reduces both emissions and water usage compared to the original plan. The fuel cells are cleaner-burning than traditional generators, yet they still combust fossil fuels.
The AI power arms race
Microsoft, Google, and Amazon have all signed nuclear energy agreements or invested in alternative power sources to feed their data center expansions. Oracle’s approach of pairing a gas-powered microgrid with renewable energy offsets fits squarely within that playbook.
The 2.5 GW power requirement for a single campus underscores how energy-intensive next-generation AI training has become. For perspective, 2.5 GW is enough to power roughly 1.8 million average American homes. Concentrating that demand in one facility in southern New Mexico explains why Oracle opted for on-site generation rather than relying on utility connections.
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