After months of public outcry, Imperial Valley cities are hitting the brakes on data centers

The Imperial Valley in California is experiencing a widespread effort by local governments to restrict data center development following significant public opposition. Calipatria City Council recently voted to advance a permanent ban on data centers within city limits, echoing similar discussions in Calexico, where the City Council unanimously decided to develop an outright ban. These actions stem from growing concerns among residents regarding the potential environmental and public health impacts of large computing facilities.

Imperial County and the City of Imperial have already extended their respective emergency moratoriums on data center projects through May 2027. This follows an initial 45-day pause implemented in June. Concurrently, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), the region's public utility, is considering a new "large load tariff" energy contract. This proposed tariff would subject large energy users, including data centers consuming over 20 megawatts, to prioritized power cuts during peak demand and require them to fund necessary system upgrades and commit to long-term contracts. IID Director Alex Cardenas also requested a water analysis be part of the tariff.

Developer Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing (IVCM), whose proposed data center near the city of Imperial sparked initial public outcry, has filed a lawsuit to challenge Imperial County's moratorium. Despite opposition from developers and trade unions, local officials like Calipatria Mayor Michael Luellen and Calexico Councilmember Diana Nuricumbo advocate for stricter controls, with some councilmembers in Brawley, such as John Grass and Timothy Kelley, expressing caution about potential negative economic impacts and legal risks. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors is also forming a data center advisory committee to study land use and zoning.