Imperial County Residents Protest Proposed Data Center

Residents raise concerns over environmental impact and lack of public review for the large-scale project.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:23am

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Residents in Imperial County, California packed a county board meeting to voice strong opposition to a proposed 950,000-square-foot data center. Speakers cited concerns over the environmental impact, lack of public review, and potential health risks of the project, which has been granted an exemption from the state's environmental review process. The county is moving forward with the proposal despite community backlash and a lawsuit filed by the City of Imperial.

Why it matters

Data centers are rapidly expanding due to the growth of artificial intelligence, but they also carry significant environmental costs in terms of energy usage and water consumption. This case highlights the tensions that can arise when local communities feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed by officials approving large-scale tech projects.

The details

Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, a two-year-old California company, wants to develop the massive data center in Imperial County for advanced AI operations. The company says the project will create jobs and generate millions in tax revenue, but residents are overwhelmingly opposed, citing health and environmental worries. The county has granted the project an exemption from the state's environmental review process, a move that has angered many in the community. Residents have organized protests, circulated petitions, and filed a lawsuit in an effort to block the data center.

  • The Imperial County Board of Supervisors held a meeting on Thursday, March 27, 2026 to solicit feedback on the data center proposal.
  • The City of Imperial has filed a lawsuit against the county, arguing the project should not have received a CEQA exemption.
  • Sebastian Rucci, the CEO of Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, is now suing the City of Imperial alleging it unfairly worked to derail the data center.

The players

Gina Snow

A resident who lives near the proposed data center site and spoke out against the project at the county meeting.

Kristian Salgado

A resident who urged the board to follow the lead of Monterey Park City Council in enacting a moratorium on data centers and putting the issue to a public vote.

Sergio Pesqueria

A resident who questioned why the board was proceeding with the project despite widespread community opposition.

Sebastian Rucci

The chief executive officer of Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, the company proposing the data center.

Jose Garcia

A speaker who urged the community to support the project because it will create jobs for construction workers.

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What they’re saying

“This project does not exist in isolation; it impacts real neighborhoods, families and schools and is also setting a precedent for how you treat your constituents. If the full scope of this project cannot be clearly presented and independently verified, then residents are essentially being asked to make decisions without information they deserve.”

— Gina Snow, Resident

“Across the United States, communities are pushing back against these projects. This developer is not an exception — no data center should be approved by right.”

— Kristian Salgado, Resident

“What the heck are we doing? There are lawsuits, there are thousands of signatures in opposition to this project, there were over four hours of public comment to the planning commission previously, we had to extend an hour tonight because of the overwhelming opposition — but here we are proceeding with this project.”

— Sergio Pesqueria, Resident

“We can't just block out one sector of your constituents. We have to make it fair for everybody.”

— Jose Garcia, Resident

“The center will use reclaimed wastewater and EPA-certified natural gas generators to help lessen any environmental harms.”

— Sebastian Rucci, CEO, Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing

What’s next

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors is expected to make a final decision on the data center proposal in the coming weeks. Residents have vowed to continue fighting the project through legal challenges and community organizing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing tensions between local communities and tech companies seeking to build large-scale data centers, as residents push back against perceived environmental and health risks. It underscores the need for thorough public review processes and meaningful engagement with impacted communities before approving such projects.