Article

A proposed one-million-square-foot data center in Imperial Valley is sparking environmental concerns due to its anticipated energy consumption, which could exceed Imperial County's electricity usage in 2024, and its daily water requirement of 750,000 gallons. Developer Sebastian Rucci seeks to bypass the California Environmental Quality Act by classifying the project as a ministerial one, despite local residents fearing resource strain. The Imperial County Planning Commission recently rejected a necessary lot merger, and Rucci has appealed the decision amid ongoing questions about the project's impact on local resources and energy prices.