Calipatria considers five-year moratorium on data center development

The Calipatria City Council unanimously voted on Tuesday, May 12, to consider a proposed five-year moratorium on new large-scale data center development within the city. Mayor Michael Luellen stated that Calipatria is the first city in Imperial County to take such a step, encouraging other communities to agendize similar actions if they are against data centers. The proposed moratorium aims to provide the city with adequate time to study and evaluate the potential impacts of data center development on water resources, electrical infrastructure, public health, traffic, noise, land use compatibility, and overall community welfare. The city currently lacks specific zoning or development standards for large-scale data facilities and plans to assess whether additional regulations or zoning amendments are necessary. Mayor Luellen expressed strong opposition to data centers, dismissing promises of economic rejuvenation as past lies associated with other industrial developments like geothermal and solar plants. He urged attendees to support the proposed Data Center Prohibition Act and the moratorium, asserting that data centers do not belong in Calipatria, Imperial County, or California. Local resident Jake Tison echoed these concerns, highlighting potential negative impacts such as higher electric bills, rolling blackouts, and polluted water, calling data centers "destructive industrial infrastructure." Francisco Leal, an Imperial resident, praised Calipatria for its proactive stance, sharing his own struggles against data center development in Imperial. Following the vote, Mayor Luellen confirmed that the moratorium proposal would advance to a public hearing to discuss specific language, with the ultimate goal of banning data centers in Calipatria.