(Deming) -- The group that pulled out of plans to build a
scientific ghost town in Hobbs is now looking at Luna County.
The Luna County commissioners are set to meet in special session Thursday at 9 a.m. to vote on an economic development agreement with Pegasus Global Holdings, which is looking to build an uninhabited replica of an average, mid-size American city where researchers can test everything from intelligent traffic systems and next-generation wireless networks to automated washing machines and self-flushing toilets.
It’s essentially a ghost town where new commercial technology would be developed and evaluated.
The group earlier this year had selected Hobbs for what it says could be a $1 billion project, but then walked away citing problems with the land deal.
A spokeswoman for the group says several sites are still under consideration in New Mexico. The Luna County agreement would simply give Pegasus access to more information about the community to determine if it is compatible with the project.
County Manager Kelly Kuenstler said the project could bring over 3,000 construction jobs and up to 350 permanent jobs to the area.
Kuenstler said if the commission approves the agreement Thursday, it would mean Pegasus Global Holdings and its subsidiary, CITE Development, LLC, and Luna County, would give their respective best efforts toward developing and implementing a plan to locate the project
here. CITE stands for Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation.
The selection of Lea County for the scientific ghost town was announced with much fanfare at a May news conference with Gov. Susana Martinez and her economic development secretary, Jon Barela. Barela told reporters Tuesday it was the first he had heard of Luna County being considered as a site.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher said the company decided to look elsewhere once they started pressing for details.
Earlier this year, Las Cruces was a finalist for the test facility, and Dona Ana County was again being considered after Pegasus officials scrapped plans to build in Hobbs.
scientific ghost town in Hobbs is now looking at Luna County.
The Luna County commissioners are set to meet in special session Thursday at 9 a.m. to vote on an economic development agreement with Pegasus Global Holdings, which is looking to build an uninhabited replica of an average, mid-size American city where researchers can test everything from intelligent traffic systems and next-generation wireless networks to automated washing machines and self-flushing toilets.
It’s essentially a ghost town where new commercial technology would be developed and evaluated.
The group earlier this year had selected Hobbs for what it says could be a $1 billion project, but then walked away citing problems with the land deal.
A spokeswoman for the group says several sites are still under consideration in New Mexico. The Luna County agreement would simply give Pegasus access to more information about the community to determine if it is compatible with the project.
County Manager Kelly Kuenstler said the project could bring over 3,000 construction jobs and up to 350 permanent jobs to the area.
Kuenstler said if the commission approves the agreement Thursday, it would mean Pegasus Global Holdings and its subsidiary, CITE Development, LLC, and Luna County, would give their respective best efforts toward developing and implementing a plan to locate the project
here. CITE stands for Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation.
The selection of Lea County for the scientific ghost town was announced with much fanfare at a May news conference with Gov. Susana Martinez and her economic development secretary, Jon Barela. Barela told reporters Tuesday it was the first he had heard of Luna County being considered as a site.
Lea County Manager Mike Gallagher said the company decided to look elsewhere once they started pressing for details.
Earlier this year, Las Cruces was a finalist for the test facility, and Dona Ana County was again being considered after Pegasus officials scrapped plans to build in Hobbs.
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