Imperial County Residents Protest against Proposed $10 Billion Data Center near Imperial

EL CENTRO — Imperial County residents gathered Saturday morning to protest a proposed $10 billion data center project planned for the area, raising concerns about environmental impacts, public safety, and quality of life.

The demonstration took place along Imperial Avenue in the City of El Centro at approximately 10:00 a.m. Pacific. The protest was organized by a coalition of local residents operating under the name “Not In My Backyard Imperial,” also known as NIMBY Imperial.

Protesters said the project, which would have Google as its key tenant, should undergo additional study before moving forward. Residents cited concerns about environmental effects, heavy resource usage, and long-term impacts on nearby neighborhoods.

Francisco Leal, a resident who said he lives directly behind the site where the data center is proposed to be built, spoke during the protest.

Leal identified himself as a project manager and longtime resident of the area leaving in that neighborhood for the past 20 years.

“There are many concerns or worries about it,” Leal said. “It’s inevitable not to be scared about a data center like this, because there’s a difference. We’re talking about an AI data center. It’s not a normal data center.”

Leal said his concerns include noise, light pollution, vibrations, and safety risks associated with lithium-based battery systems.

“Those lithium batteries are highly toxic, and that’s the kind of fire that you can’t put out,” Leal said, adding that a potential fire could release airborne chemicals affecting nearby homes, agricultural fields, and water sources.

Leal also criticized the project’s approval process, alleging developers are attempting to divide the project in a way that avoids broader environmental review requirements.

“We’re not against progress. We’re not against technology,” Leal said. “We’re against the way they’re trying to do it. Do it right.”

Leal said if the data center is built, he would feel forced to relocate.

“I’m going to have to move. I have no choice,” he said, adding that quality-of-life concerns outweigh potential property value impacts.

Leal also questioned claims that the project would bring significant economic benefits to the area, stating that large technology companies often receive tax breaks and subsidies, which he said could limit long-term tax revenue for local residents.

Developers of the Imperial Valley Data Center have stated that the project would provide economic benefits to the region. According to imperialdatacenter.com, the project is expected to generate approximately 2,500 or more construction jobs and more than 100 permanent jobs.

In a statement, the developers said they are committed to “creating lasting economic opportunity through high-quality jobs, significant tax revenue, and sustainable operations that benefit the local community.”

developers also pointed to the closure of the Spreckels Sugar plant, which they said removed approximately $243 million annually from the local economy and resulted in the loss of more than 700 jobs. They said the data center project would serve as a replacement economic driver while supporting the broader “Lithium Valley” vision and positioning Imperial County as a hub for clean energy and technology.

Another speaker at the protest, Gilberto Manzanares, one of the community organizer and the founder of VALLE IMPERIAL RESISTE. Manzanares said he views the proposed data center as part of a broader pattern of industrial expansion in Imperial County.

“For me, and a lot of us in the coalition, it’s about an open door,” Manzanares said. “It will not stop at just one data center.”

Manzanares said the county has previously included data centers within broader planning frameworks tied to lithium development, which he said could allow additional industries to move into the region.

He said he was surprised by the proposed location of the project, noting that he had expected such development to occur in other parts of the Imperial Valley rather than near residential neighborhoods.

he believes data centers provide limited long-term benefits to local communities, citing what he described as temporary construction jobs and potential strain on infrastructure, including electrical systems.

“We don’t have to speculate,” Manzanares said. “There’s countless examples all over this country.”

He also raised concerns about water usage, referencing other communities where developers allegedly promised closed-loop or reclaimed water systems but later relied on potable water supplies.

“How am I supposed to trust these companies and developers?” Manzanares said, adding that he believes out-of-area corporations prioritize land availability over community impact.

“It doesn’t matter where they put it,” he said. “The effects will be felt by everyone equally.”

Manzanares also expressed frustration with county decision-making, citing what he described as the rapid dismissal of public comments opposing the project during a recent commission meeting.

He said his trust in local leadership has been eroded by what he characterized as a willingness to prioritize economic development over community well-being.

“There’s a very big distinction between sensible economic development and treating us like a sacrifice zone,” Manzanares said.

Members of NIMBY Imperial emphasized that they are not a formal organization, nonprofit, or government-affiliated group.

“We’re just a coalition of neighbors,” Leal said. “We don’t have ties to any agency or government.”

Protesters said they plan to attend an upcoming county workshop scheduled for the 14th at 6 p.m. in the Imperial County Board of Supervisors chamber. Organizers said the