Data center developer sues IID over water service denial
Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC has filed a lawsuit against the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) in Imperial County, California, alleging unlawful denial of water service for its proposed 330-megawatt data center. The developer contends IID's policies discriminate against industrial water users and that its water demand could be offset by fallowing agricultural land. The lawsuit also cites public statements by IID board members as evidence of predetermined opposition to the project.
Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC, the developer of a proposed 330-megawatt data center in unincorporated Imperial County, California, has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against the Imperial Irrigation District (IID). The company's 173-page petition, submitted to the Imperial County Superior Court, alleges that IID unlawfully denied its request for approximately 880 acre-feet of water annually for industrial cooling and discriminates against industrial water users.
The data center, planned for a 75-acre site at Aten and Clark roads, initially sought reclaimed wastewater from the cities of Imperial and El Centro. However, these arrangements fell through, leading the developer to propose a "self-supplied" water plan to IID, involving the fallowing of an adjacent 160-acre agricultural parcel to offset water demand. IID denied the request, citing Regulation 21 and directing the developer to seek service from the City of Imperial, despite the project being in unincorporated county land where IID is the primary water provider.
The lawsuit challenges IID's reliance on Regulation 21, arguing it applies only to small parcel water service and not industrial cooling, and contends that IID's Adaptive Water Supply Policy (AWSP) imposes substantially higher fees and lengthy approval processes on industrial projects compared to agricultural users. The developer also highlights public statements by IID board members, including Chair Karin Eugenio and Director Alex Cardenas, expressing concerns about data centers' impacts, arguing these comments demonstrate a predetermined opposition to the project. The company is seeking court orders to overturn IID's denial and declare portions of its policies unlawful, amidst ongoing debate over large-scale data center development in Imperial County.