New Mexico Supreme Court Asked to Intervene in Project Jupiter Air Quality Permit Process Amid Due Process Concerns
An advocacy group, New Energy Economy, has filed an emergency writ with the New Mexico Supreme Court, urging it to halt the air quality permit proceedings for Project Jupiter. The group alleges that the process, overseen by New Mexico Environment Department hearing officer Max Shepherd, has violated due process rights, describing it as a 'trial by ambush.' Concerns stem from several reversals by Shepherd, including the denial of discovery—the process for exchanging evidence—after initially stating it would be allowed. Additionally, the administrative record, a document thousands of pages long, will not be made available until the day direct testimony is due. The hearing, originally scheduled for October, was moved up to September 14, shortly after officials from Oracle, a key company behind Project Jupiter, met with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Environmental advocates and some state lawmakers express apprehension about the expedited timeline and lack of transparency, fearing it prioritizes the governor... 
