Imperial Valley DC Campus

A massive $10 billion data center project has been proposed near California’s southern border, aimed at establishing the region as a hub for high-performance computing and artificial intelligence.

Spearheaded by Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC (IVCM), the "Imperial Data Center" is designed as a large facility spanning 950,000 square feet on 74 acres of land. To ensure Tier IV reliability, the site features a substantial 862MWh battery energy storage system utilizing 220 Tesla Megapacks and 100 natural gas-powered backup generators.

While proponents highlight the potential for thousands of construction jobs and a significant boost to the local tax base, the project has sparked intense friction between the City of Imperial and Imperial County. Local officials and residents have voiced concerns regarding environmental transparency, specifically the project's 750,000-gallon daily water demand and its exemption from the standard California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review process, leading to ongoing litigation and community protests.