The Project
The $10 billion Imperial Data Center: a generational investment
The Imperial Valley Data Center (IVDC) is the largest single private investment ever proposed in Imperial County — a $10 billion, 950,000-square-foot AI and cloud computing facility on 74 acres of heavy industrial land at the corner of Aten Road and Clark Road.
Built by Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing (IVCM), the facility would deliver 330 megawatts of computing capacity for one of the world's largest technology companies — putting Imperial Valley on the map as a national hub for advanced computing infrastructure.
Why it matters
Imperial County has the highest unemployment rate in California at 18.6% and a median household income of $56,000 — roughly half the state average. This project doesn't just bring jobs. It restructures the local economy.
The numbers
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | $10 billion |
| Facility Size | 950,000 sq ft on 74 acres |
| Power Capacity | 330 MW |
| Construction Jobs | 1,688 union positions at prevailing wages |
| Permanent Tech Jobs | 100+ network engineering & facility management |
| Annual IID Revenue | Up to $30 million/year |
| Annual Property Tax | $28.75 million |
| One-Time Sales Tax | $72.5 million |
| Energy Storage | 220 Tesla Megapacks (862 MWh) |
Legally confirmed: by-right development
The IVDC sits on I-2 heavy industrial zoned land where data centers are a permitted use under Imperial County Code. On February 27, 2026, a Superior Court judge dismissed a 35-page, 121-paragraph lawsuit challenging the project, confirming it is a lawful ministerial project requiring no discretionary approval.
This isn't a loophole — it's how industrial zoning is designed to work. The land was zoned for exactly this type of facility.
Grid reliability: shock absorber, not drain
The facility deploys 220 Tesla Megapacks providing 862 MWh of battery storage with grid-forming inverters. Under an interruptible service contract, IID can cut the center's power instantly during grid emergencies. The facility then islands itself from the macro-grid, removing 330 MW of demand — functioning as a shock absorber that strengthens grid resilience for every IID customer.
Water: zero potable, net positive
The IVDC uses 100% recycled municipal wastewater via a closed-loop "purple pipe" system — zero potable water consumed. The facility purchases 6 million gallons of reclaimed water daily, uses only 750,000 gallons for cooling, and returns 5.25 million gallons of newly purified water daily to the Salton Sea watershed, helping suppress the toxic dust that plagues valley communities.
For context: IID holds 3.1 million acre-feet in senior water rights. A single Imperial Valley farming family used an estimated 82,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water in 2022 — nearly 100 times the entire data center's annual need of 840 acre-feet.
“$10 billion in investment. 1,688 union jobs. $30 million a year for IID. Zero potable water. The only reason it isn't built is politics.”
$10 billion. 1,688 jobs. $30 million a year for ratepayers.
Elect leaders who will say yes to Imperial Valley's future.
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