Google-Linked 330MW Data Center Proposal Sparks Local Tensions in Southern California
January 12, 2026 A major hyperscale data center project, potentially linked to Google, has been proposed in Southern California's Imperial Valley, highlighting the intense demand for power and computing capacity driven by artificial intelligence and cloud services. The proposal, however, has ignited significant friction between local government bodies and raised concerns among residents over environmental impact and transparency. The project, spearheaded by developer Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing, LLC (IVCM), envisions a massive single-story facility spanning 950,000 square feet on a 74-acre site near Clark Road. With a planned power capacity of 330 megawatts, the campus would include the main data center, a 330MW backup generator building, an on-site substation, and a substantial 862MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) composed of 220 Tesla Megapack units dedicated solely to the facility. The local utility, Imperial Irrigation District (IID), has indicated the project could be operational as early as January 2027. While IVCM founder Sebastian Rucci is leading the development, project documents and representatives have suggested Google's involvement as a potential anchor tenant. Local reports cite project representatives stating the end-user is one of the "big four" US tech giants, though Google's formal commitment remains unconfirmed. The scale of the proposed development has become a point of contention. The City of Imperial, which borders the unincorporated county land where the project is sited, has expressed frustration over a lack of engagement from Imperial County officials. The city council has formally urged the county planning commission to deny a necessary lot merger for the project, arguing it violates local zoning, and has filed a lawsuit alleging non-compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. State Senator Steve Padilla has echoed calls for greater public scrutiny, stating, “Before any data center projects are approved by the County, a complete picture of the water usage and energy demands must be clarified.” Local opposition has also mobilized, with a community group gathering over 2,200 signatures on a petition against the development. The proposal underscores the broader trend of data center expansion into new regions. The IID has reported receiving multiple data center inquiries for its service territory, with individual project demands ranging from 30MW to 1GW, testing the district's total generating capacity of over 2.1GW. This project, alongside another planned 300MW campus in the county by developer CalEthos, signals a potential transformation of the Imperial Valley into a significant digital infrastructure hub, balancing economic promise against local community and resource concerns. Source: datacenterdynamics
