Economic Transformation
Why Imperial Valley needs the data center
Imperial Valley is one of the most economically distressed regions in California. The numbers tell a story of a community that has been left behind — and a data center that can change the trajectory.
| Imperial County | Stat | State Average |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 18.6% | 4.8% |
| Poverty Rate | 19.6% | 12.4% |
| Median Household Income | $56,000 | $100,149 |
| Per Capita Income | $24,065 | ~$47,000 |
Why it matters
When opponents call the data center a threat to the community, they're ignoring the crisis already here. Families are choosing between electricity and groceries. The 69% IID rate hike hit a population that was already struggling. The data center is the path out.
What the data center delivers
Real impact, real numbers
- 1,688 union construction jobs at prevailing wages over a 2-year build phase — in a county where nearly 1 in 5 workers can't find a job
- 100+ permanent tech positions in network engineering and facility management — career-track jobs, not seasonal labor
- $30 million per year in net IID utility revenue — directly offsetting the need to raise residential rates
- $28.75 million per year in county property tax — funding schools, fire, police, and infrastructure
- $72.5 million in one-time sales tax — an immediate cash infusion for local government
- $10 million offered for municipal wastewater treatment upgrades
Opportunity, not exploitation
Some opponents have called Imperial Valley a potential "sacrifice zone." But sacrifice zones are created when communities have no seat at the table and no economic alternative. The IVDC is the opposite:
Built-in community protections
- Zero potable water — 100% recycled municipal wastewater via closed-loop system
- Net water positive — returns 5.25 million gallons of purified water daily to the Salton Sea watershed
- Interruptible power contract — IID can cut the facility's power instantly during grid emergencies
- Developer-funded infrastructure — all grid upgrades paid by the developer, not ratepayers
- IID Ratepayer Protection Resolution — Board adopted Resolution No. 37-2025 ensuring ratepayers pay nothing for industrial upgrades
- I-2 industrial zoning — built on land designated for exactly this purpose, away from residential neighborhoods
The Salton Sea connection
The Salton Sea is shrinking, exposing toxic dust that poisons valley communities. The IVDC's water system directly addresses this: by purchasing reclaimed wastewater and returning 5.25 million gallons daily of newly purified water to the watershed, the facility actively suppresses dust and contributes to environmental restoration — while using zero drinking water.
“Imperial Valley doesn't need more politicians telling us what we can't have. We need leaders who will fight for what we deserve — real jobs, lower rates, and a future worth staying for.”
18.6% unemployment. A 69% rate hike. The solution is here — if leadership will act.
Support Carlos Duran for IID Division 1 on June 2nd.
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