When a private firm proposed a plan to build an experimental tech city in the middle of New Mexico, the nearby residents were all on board. The ghost town was to consist of new and emerging technologies that could support a green economy, but almost as soon as the residents celebrated the news that their county was selected for the experiment, the firm backed out without explanation – leaving many wonder about this mysterious firm, Pegasus Global Holdings.
Nobody was more surprised about the abrupt change of plans than Lea County’s mayor, Sam Cobb, who told the press that he found out about it from the paper. When trying to make sense of it all, Cobb recalled a conversation with the group involving the mineral rights of the land. But Cobb immediately ruled that out and said, “From a practical stand-point, it’s a non-issue.”
In addition, Mayor Cobb claimed that he didn’t feel the need to press the group too hard about the details of their project. He said, “If you start asking me for money or gifting of land, that's when I am going to start getting in your business.” Apparently, Pegasus Global Holdings never discussed incentives or tax breaks of any kind.
According to the press release, “Because the group is private information about their dealings is scarce.” But despite the lack of information from any government offices in New Mexico that would provide any reasons for why the project cannot continue in that location, the firm released to the public that “some very complicated and unforeseen issues with acquiring the land for this specific project," are the reasons they pulled the plug.
The plans for the city were to include state-of-the-art wireless networks, progressive traffic systems and even self-flushing toilets. Although the ghost town project remains enshrouded by mystery, people following this event believe that the project will eventually pick up. And as it seems with many experiments, the locale will remain in New Mexico.
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Edited by Allison Boccamazzo