Business

Imperial County AI data center fight turns on water, power and environmental review

A newly published investigation traces how a proposed 330-megawatt computing campus became a legal and political battle in the Imperial Valley.

Published October 17, 2026

The Guardian reported Saturday that developer Sebastian Rucci is pursuing a roughly 950,000-square-foot artificial-intelligence data center on 75 acres of industrial land outside the city of Imperial. The proposal has drawn opposition from residents concerned about electricity demand, water supplies, air quality and noise.

Judge requires a full environmental review

An Imperial County judge ruled that the project could have significant effects on water, energy, air quality and other resources, according to the California Courts newsroom. The ruling requires a full review under the California Environmental Quality Act rather than the faster ministerial process the developer sought.

The project also became entangled in a separate fight over a county moratorium on data centers. Imperial County said October 6 that it repealed the moratorium to comply with a court order, while noting that individual applications remain subject to other land-use rules and requirements.

Disputed connection to Google

The Guardian reported that Rucci told county agencies he had interest from Google and that the campus could support Gemini model training. Google said it is not involved in an Imperial County data center project, and Rucci acknowledged there is no formal agreement.

The investigation places the dispute in a broader debate over whether large AI infrastructure projects can deliver jobs and tax revenue without overburdening the Imperial Valley's limited water supply, electricity system and nearby communities.

Original reporting: The Guardian — October 17, 2026 →

Official records: California Courts — September 10, 2026 → · Imperial County — October 6, 2026 →