Imperial County holds data center workshop
Dillon Fuhrman
IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County held a public workshop last week to provide an overview of potential data centers in the region.
According to a press release, the workshop took place Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The workshop was to offer residents to learn about the purpose, benefits and impacts of data centers, as well as offer residents to share their questions and concerns, the County says.
During the workshop, several county officials held the following presentations:
Bari Bean, County Assistant CEO, provided “an overview addressing many of the topics of concerns residents had shared with the County over the past few weeks including why data center developers may be interested in locating in Imperial County, technologies that allow for development in hot climates, alternative water sources and technologies, as well as potential economic benefits for residents and the region.”
Jim Minnick, County Planning and Permitting Director, detailed “the permitting process, building permit requirements, and potential environmental and technical studies for data center projects.”
Belen Leon Lopez, County Air Pollution Control Officer, discussed “air monitoring and regulatory frameworks, generator usage including emissions regulations and enforcement, as well as health risk assessments.”
The County says the presenters addressed the following topics to understand data center development:
Why data centers are interested in locating in Imperial County.
Connections between data centers and geothermal energy or other sustainable power sources in Imperial County.
Water use considerations and the advantages of developer-funded tertiary water systems.
Traffic impacts during construction verse long-term, and strategies to minimize disruption in local communities.
Imperial County Air Pollution and Control District’s regulations, enforcement and oversight over development, including the use of backup generators and ambient air conditions.
To watch the workshop, click here. To learn more about the workshop, read the press release below.