Citizens are speaking out against a proposed data center in Imperial County

Residents filled rooms and poured into the parking lot during Thursday’s meeting of the Imperial County Board of Supervisors, which was held to ask for feedback on plans to develop a large data center without first conducting a state environmental review.

Speakers were strongly opposed to the project, complaining of many health and environmental issues, and criticized the board for allowing the proposal to move forward despite the public’s cries for relief.

“This project is not isolated; it affects real communities, families and schools and sets an example of how you treat your people,” said Gina Snow, who lives near the proposed site. “If the scope of this work is not clearly defined and independently verified, then residents are being asked to make decisions without the information they deserve.”

Kristian Salgado urged the board to follow the lead of the Monterey Park City Council, which recently passed a law banning data centers and will put the issue to a public vote after the proposed project sparked public backlash.

“Across the United States, communities are pushing back against these projects,” Salgado said. “This developer is no exception – no data center should be privileged.”

Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, a California-based limited liability company that started two years ago, wants to build a 950,000-square-foot facility in the region designed for advanced artificial intelligence operations. The company says it will create jobs and generate $28.75 million in annual tax revenue.

The county is looking to finalize the proposal, and grant it an exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act — a point of contention for many residents. CEQA is a landmark state law that requires projects to be extensively reviewed for social and environmental impacts before construction begins.

In the past months, citizens have circulated a petition, spoken at district meetings, rallied in the streets, and formed a community organization, Not in My Backyard Imperial., to protest the data center and seek CEQA review.

“What are we doing?” Sergio Pesqueria asked the board on Thursday. “There are lawsuits, there are thousands of signatures against this project, there were more than four hours of public hearings at the planning commission earlier, we had to extend an hour tonight because of strong opposition – but here we go with this project.”

The city of Imperial filed a lawsuit, arguing that the project should not have received a CEQA exemption. Sebastian Rucci, CEO of Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, is now suing the city alleging it acted improperly to destroy the data center.

Rucci previously said the facility would use reclaimed wastewater and EPA-approved natural gas generators to help minimize any environmental damage. He approved several studies that found the project would have little impact on the local community — he reiterated that point Thursday and told residents they could review the studies on the company’s website.

Another speaker, Jose Garcia, urged the public to support the project because it will create job opportunities for construction workers. He said that many who work in this sector are growing desperate as they are struggling, while others are living in fear of not being able to feed their children.

“We cannot block one segment of your voters,” Garcia told the board. “We have to make it fair for everyone.”

Some residents have asked why the name of the company that plans to use the center’s artificial intelligence has been withheld. Rucci previously told The Times that the company is one of the largest intelligence hyperscaler companies, but would not reveal which one because of ongoing disputes over the project.

Data centers have been around for decades but are rapidly changing and expanding due to the rise of artificial intelligence around the world.

Cornell University researchers last year It is estimated that the growth of AI could add 24 to 44 million tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2030, the equivalent of adding 5 to 10 million cars to US roads. The researchers concluded that 731 million to 1,125 million cubic meters of water will be withdrawn annually.