Imperial County

Environment

Two Imperial County supervisors press for special election on data centers

Kori Suzuki

The Board of Supervisors also voted to reinstate a temporary freeze on data center development Tuesday.
Local

Newsom signs bill revoking charity tax break for Imperial County ICE detention center

Kori Suzuki

A KPBS investigation earlier this year found the nonprofit owner of the Imperial Regional Detention Facility had avoided millions in taxes by operating as a charity.
Environment

New California law requires environmental analysis before data centers can be built

Kori Suzuki

The legislation was spurred in part by a controversial project in Imperial County. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a slate of new data center laws on Monday.
Environment

Imperial Valley utility adopts new pricing rules, putting data centers first for power cuts

Kori Suzuki

The Imperial Irrigation District's new rules require major energy users to cover infrastructure upgrades and pay a minimum monthly charge, among other things.
Environment

Court overturns approval of Imperial County data center, orders environmental review

Kori Suzuki

Judge L. Brooks Anderholt ruled that county officials illegally shielded the nearly-1 million square-foot data complex from state environmental review.
Environment

‘It must be the Imperial Valley’s moment’: A renewed commitment for the decades-long New River crisis

Tammy Murga

The New River flows 60 miles from Baja California through Imperial County into the Salton Sea, carrying treated sewage and waste from industrial and agricultural sectors.
Border & Immigration

California lawmakers revoke charity tax breaks for Imperial County ICE detention center

Kori Suzuki

Legislators introduced Senate Bill 420 in response to a KPBS investigation. It’s now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
Environment

Judge preparing to halt massive Imperial County data center, order environmental review

Kori Suzuki

In a tentative decision Monday, Judge L. Brooks Anderholt indicated that he was considering overturning a Board of Supervisors’ decision to green light the 950,000-square foot complex.
Environment

California politicians promised white gold in ‘Lithium Valley’. But are those dreams fading?

Deborah Brennan

This California desert region was touted as the ‘Saudi Arabia of lithium.’ Years later, projects are behind schedule and workers are waiting for jobs.
Environment

Judge poised to strike down Imperial County's data center moratorium

Kori Suzuki

In a tentative decision earlier this month, Imperial County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Jones said county officials failed to prove data centers posed a public health or safety threat.