Recall effort relaunched against Imperial County Supervisor Peggy Price over transparency, safety concerns
A recall campaign has been launched against Imperial County Supervisor Peggy Price, partly due to public dissatisfaction with the county's handling of a proposed AI data center. Critics argue the county failed to conduct proper environmental reviews and that an existing data center moratorium was insufficient. Advocates for the recall are pushing for a countywide ban on data centers due to concerns over water scarcity and environmental impact.
Darrell Pechtl, a former Imperial City Council member and planning commissioner, has initiated a recall campaign against Imperial County Supervisor Peggy Price, serving formal notice during a Board of Supervisors meeting. Pechtl, representing Supervisorial District 3 residents, cited public dissatisfaction with several issues, including emergency response delays, fire station closures, airport funding deficits, and the county's controversial handling of a proposed AI data center project.
A key point of contention is the data center near residential neighborhoods in the city of Imperial. Pechtl criticized the board for not mandating a full review under the California Environmental Act (CEQA) from the project's outset, alleging attempts to bypass public scrutiny. He also highlighted the inadequacy of the county's data center moratorium, describing it as "simple frosting on a cake made of styrofoam" that courts have deemed insufficient.
Pechtl advocates for a countywide ban on data centers, at least until Colorado River water levels are sufficient to meet agricultural and community needs. He warned that data centers' massive water consumption threatens the region's agricultural livelihood and overall quality of life, asserting that the county failed to plan adequately for long-term sustainability. Price had not provided a statement regarding the recall effort as of press time.