Oracle is again asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to accelerate review of Transwestern Pipeline’s Green Chile Project, a proposed 17.77-mile natural-gas line intended to supply an on-site Bloom Energy fuel-cell microgrid for the planned 2.5-gigawatt Project Jupiter data-center campus in Doña Ana County, New Mexico. No final FERC approval order had been issued as of October 15, 2026; the pipeline is reportedly targeted for operation in February 2027, while the campus is planned to begin operations in 2028.
Why Project Jupiter needs a new gas pipeline
Project Jupiter is planned as a 2.5-gigawatt artificial-intelligence data-center campus. Its proposed power system would use natural gas delivered to a separate, adjacent site where an on-site plant and Bloom Energy fuel-cell microgrid would generate electricity for the campus.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The arrangement is designed as a behind-the-meter system rather than a conventional connection that depends entirely on local utility capacity. Oracle said in March 2026 that the proposed microgrids would operate independently of the local grid, use advanced emissions controls and continuously monitor emissions. Reliable fuel delivery is therefore central to the proposed power design, which is why Oracle is seeking expedited federal review of the Green Chile pipeline.
What the Green Chile Project would build
| Item | Reported specification or status |
|---|---|
| Developer/operator named in reporting | Transwestern Pipeline |
| Location | Doña Ana County, New Mexico |
| Pipeline length and diameter | Approximately 17.77 miles (28.6 kilometers) of 24-inch interstate pipeline |
| Planned gas throughput | About 400 million cubic feet per day |
| Intended customer | The on-site power plant and Bloom Energy fuel-cell microgrid serving Project Jupiter |
| FERC proceeding | Docket CP26-80 |
| Reported pipeline operating target | February 2027; this is a target, not a guaranteed in-service date |
Because the line would be an interstate pipeline, FERC approval is a key federal milestone. The available reporting does not establish that FERC has issued a final certificate or other approval order by October 15, 2026.
#1 Best Overall
How Oracle’s power plan changed
In April 2026, Oracle and BorderPlex announced that Project Jupiter would use Bloom Energy fuel cells instead of an earlier concept based on gas turbines and diesel generators. The change affects both the equipment and the permitting questions surrounding the campus.
| Power concept | What the reporting describes |
|---|---|
| Earlier design | Gas turbines and diesel generators |
| Announced 2026 design | Natural-gas-fed Bloom Energy fuel cells in behind-the-meter microgrids |
| Operating approach | Microgrids intended to operate independently of the local grid |
| Controls identified by Oracle | Advanced emissions controls and continuous emissions monitoring |
Fuel cells still require a dependable natural-gas supply. The technology switch therefore did not remove the need for new pipeline capacity; it changed the type of generation that the gas would feed and the emissions-control framework Oracle says it will use.
Rank #2
Regulatory history and environmental objections
New Mexico regulators previously rejected an Energy Transfer pipeline proposal associated with the site. Reported objections included the project’s potential for large-scale water use, higher carbon-dioxide emissions and limited revenue for the state. Those concerns remain part of the broader debate over how a very large data center and its dedicated energy infrastructure should be evaluated.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallEnvironmental groups and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez have asked FERC to broaden its environmental review to consider the combined effects of Project Jupiter and the pipeline, rather than treating the facilities as unrelated actions. Their position focuses on cumulative impacts, including water demand and emissions, while Oracle’s filing strategy emphasizes the legal and operational separation of the facilities.
Why Oracle says the facilities are separate
In a September 14, 2026 statement, Oracle said: “The Project Jupiter data center campus and the proposed microgrid are separate facilities on separate but adjacent sites, operated by separate companies.”
Oracle also said construction of the data-center campus is proceeding under county permits and is not covered by the microgrid’s air-permit application. The microgrid remains subject to separate state and environmental review. This distinction matters because county authorization for campus construction does not substitute for FERC approval of an interstate pipeline or for the permits needed to operate the gas-fired microgrid.
What the dates mean for Project Jupiter
| Milestone | Reported timing | How certain is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle’s renewed effort to expedite Green Chile review | 2026, under FERC docket CP26-80 | A current request; no final FERC order is established in the available reporting |
| Green Chile pipeline operation | February 2027 | Reported target, not a commitment that construction, certification or commissioning will finish by then |
| Project Jupiter campus operations | 2028 | Oracle’s planned schedule; not guaranteed |
The schedule leaves roughly a year between the reported pipeline target and the planned 2028 campus start. That window could provide time for commissioning, but any additional FERC review, litigation, construction problem or state permitting delay would reduce it. A late pipeline would not automatically cancel the data center because Oracle describes the campus and microgrid as separate facilities, yet it could threaten the availability of the power system the campus is intended to use.
Could a pipeline delay stop the data center?
Not necessarily. Oracle says campus construction is already proceeding under county permits, and the data-center site is legally distinct from the adjacent microgrid site. Those facts mean building work could continue even if the pipeline timetable changes.
The practical risk is power readiness. Project Jupiter’s announced design depends on a gas-fed microgrid, and the Green Chile line is the proposed supply route identified in current reporting. If that route is delayed or not approved, Oracle would need to secure another power or fuel arrangement, obtain any required approvals and demonstrate that the substitute can support the 2.5-gigawatt campus schedule. No replacement plan has been established in the available information.
Quick Recap
What to watch next
- Whether FERC issues an approval, requests additional information or orders a broader cumulative-impact review in docket CP26-80.
- Whether the Green Chile Project keeps its February 2027 operating target.
- Progress on the microgrid’s state and environmental permits, including emissions-control and monitoring requirements.
- Any change to Oracle’s stated 2028 campus-operations schedule or its proposed fuel-cell configuration.
- Further action by New Mexico officials or environmental groups concerning water use, emissions and the combined effects of the pipeline and data center.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
