Oracle's $16.5 billion AI data center is blocked over environmental concerns, and adjustments to its power supply plan may add billions of dollars in costs.

According to a report by The Information, Oracle’s $16.5 billion AI super campus Project Jupiter in New Mexico has encountered environmental approval hurdles, forcing adjustments to its power supply plan and adding an estimated billions of dollars in extra costs. The 1,400-acre campus is primarily built to provide computing power for OpenAI, with a designed installed capacity exceeding 2 gigawatts. Oracle originally planned to construct its own natural gas power plant, but related permits have been stalled due to concerns over air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. In April this year, the company switched to Bloom Energy’s natural gas fuel cells and adjusted its microgrid capacity to 2.45 gigawatts. Analysts estimate this plan will cost around $8 billion, billions more than the natural gas turbine alternative. New Mexico last week again rejected the proposed fuel pipeline route, and the state’s environmental department will hold a public hearing on the air permit on October 19. The local attorney general is also investigating allegations that residents’ names were used without their consent in project support letters. Oracle’s data center project in Wisconsin is also facing additional expenses. Local regulatory rulings may require Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage Data Centers to bear the full cost of transmission line construction individually; Oracle says another financial guarantee requirement will add roughly $100 million in annual costs.