Imperial County Residents Plan Protest Over Proposed Data Center

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Residents in Imperial County are planning a community protest this Saturday against a proposed data center project near the city of Imperial.

The group Not In My Back Yard–Imperial is focusing its concerns on water use and environmental oversight tied to the project.

"We've been told the project will use 100% reclaimed water, but the City of El Centro has publicly stated there's no contract, no agreement, no approval," said Jake Tison, a protest organizer. "Promises without contracts are not mitigation."

The proposed data center would require significant water to operate, raising concerns about how wastewater would be handled and returned to local canals.

"If that water gets polluted, it gets thrown back into the canal...and you're a farmer, you know...the culture and our heritage down here....our history is going to be gone." Tison said.

The protest is scheduled for Saturday starting at 10 a.m. at the corner of Main Street and Imperial Avenue in El Centro.

Similar debates are unfolding in rural communities across the country, as residents weigh the impact of large-scale data centers on water, air, and local resources.