Chamber’s Economic Development Teams
On Feb. 10, the Bernalillo County Commission considered two resolutions related to economic development and the use of Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs). Just prior to public comment, the commission deferred one item sponsored by Commissioner Barbara Baca that would incorporate community benefit priorities into the county’s economic development strategy. That resolution is expected to return for consideration on Feb. 25. A second resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Eric C. Olivas (District 5) and titled Holding Data Center Projects Accountable in Our Community, moved forward and ultimately passed on a 4–1 vote much to our dismay.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce spoke in opposition to the data center resolution, with Tom Jenkins, SIOR, CCIM, chair of the Chamber’s Economic Development Teams, stating:
“Madam Chair and Members of the Commission, my name is Tom Jenkins, and I chair the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Teams. The Chamber has decided to oppose this proposed IRB resolution.
Our first concern is the message this resolution sends. It creates uncertainty and makes Bernalillo County look harder to do business with. For large projects, especially technology and data related projects, predictability matters. When the rules look unclear or overly restrictive, many companies will simply decide not to consider Albuquerque at all. Those projects will never come before this Commission because they will rule us out early based on that perception.
“Second, New Mexico has been named a Federal Quantum Tech Hub. That is not just about research at the labs. It is about turning new technology into real jobs, private investment, and long-term economic stability. That work depends on advanced computing, AI, and data center infrastructure. If we make it harder for those kinds of projects to happen here, we risk losing the benefits that come with that designation.
“Third, the Commission already has full discretion over IRBs and other economic development tools. Every County issued IRB requires a majority vote of this body. If a project is not in the County’s best interest, you can deny it. You do not need an additional resolution to exercise that authority.
“For these reasons, we respectfully urge you to vote no on this resolution and continue evaluating projects through the existing case by case process based on real facts and real outcomes. Thank you for your time.”
Several individuals spoke in support of the resolution, though much of the public comment focused on broader concerns about data centers generally rather than on the IRB process itself. Issues raised included potential impacts on utility rates, water use, private equity ownership and the number of permanent jobs created. Broader concerns about artificial intelligence were also discussed, including its potential effect on creative professions within Bernalillo County.
The adopted resolution establishes additional policy expectations for data center projects seeking county IRBs, including a requirement that projects be powered by 100% renewable energy at commencement, expanded water conservation planning and reporting and workforce targets emphasizing New Mexico residency. Electric generation and rates remain regulated by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, while water and wastewater systems are currently managed by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority.
The Greater Albuquerque Chamber is disappointed in the outcome of the Feb. 10 vote and believes the adopted resolution moves Bernalillo County in a direction that risks undermining its economic competitiveness at a time when New Mexico must be aggressively positioning itself for growth. Over the next two weeks, the Chamber will engage commissioners, community stakeholders and business leaders to ensure that future economic development policy decisions are grounded in measurable fiscal analysis, workforce realities, infrastructure capacity and long-term competitiveness. Policies affecting Industrial Revenue Bonds and major capital investment projects must be informed by data and clear economic impact assessments, not uncertainty or assumptions.