Council Votes to Shut the Door on Data Centers in Calexico

-Editorial

The Calexico City Council voted unanimously on July 1 to direct city staff to prepare an ordinance that would prohibit data centers within city limits, moving beyond a temporary moratorium that had originally been proposed for consideration.

The decision came during a lengthy council meeting that concluded at approximately 10 p.m., with the data center item being the final matter discussed on the agenda.

According to city documents, staff had recommended the adoption of an interim urgency ordinance establishing a temporary moratorium on new data center projects. The proposed moratorium was intended to provide time for the city to study potential impacts associated with data center development and evaluate whether amendments to the Calexico Municipal Code, zoning regulations, or planning policies would be necessary.

The staff report cited concerns related to electrical power demand, utility infrastructure capacity, water consumption, traffic, noise, emergency response capabilities, public safety, hazardous materials, air quality, land-use compatibility, and economic impacts.

Under the proposal, the moratorium would have taken effect immediately and remained in place for 45 days, with the possibility of extensions as allowed under California Government Code Section 65858. 

During council discussion, members instead chose to pursue a permanent prohibition on data centers. The council voted unanimously to have staff return with an ordinance that would formally ban such facilities in Calexico.

The proposed ordinance is expected to be presented at the council’s July 15 meeting for further consideration and possible action.

If ultimately approved, the measure would make Calexico the first city in Imperial County to adopt a complete ban on data centers. No other city in Imperial County, nor the county government itself, has adopted a similar prohibition.

The action differs from measures recently adopted by the County of Imperial and the cities of Imperial and Calipatria, which approved temporary 45-day moratoriums on new data center projects to allow time for further study and evaluation of potential impacts before considering long-term regulations.

El Centro resident and third-generation Imperial Valley resident Jake Tison urged officials to reject data center development, arguing that such projects would bring financial, environmental and public safety burdens rather than community benefits. Referring to ongoing litigation surrounding energy and infrastructure projects in the region, Tison said data centers could expose local governments to costly lawsuits while straining emergency response resources. 

He contended that local fire departments are not equipped to handle potential incidents associated with large-scale energy storage and data center operations and cited concerns raised by environmental groups, including the Sierra Club. Tison also expressed worries about potential health and environmental impacts, claiming studies have linked data centers to increased healthcare costs and environmental damage in surrounding communities. “Who do we call about the industrial-scale violence that a data center brings? Who’s protecting us from that stuff down here?” Tison said, arguing that residents could ultimately bear millions of dollars in health and environmental costs associated with large-scale AI-focused data centers.

Former Councilmember Gilberto Manzanarez voiced support for a proposed data center moratorium, urging city leaders to consider whether large-scale artificial intelligence facilities align with the community’s identity and long-term interests. Manzanarez said residents should ask themselves what comes to mind when they think of Calexico, arguing that hyperscale data centers “do not belong in this community.” He raised concerns about potential strains on electrical infrastructure, water resources and emergency services, citing examples from other communities grappling with data center growth. Manzanarez also warned against waiting until a project is proposed before taking action, pointing to ongoing controversy over a major data center development in Imperial. “We don’t want to find ourselves in that position,” he said, adding that the city should use a moratorium period to develop stronger regulations or potentially pursue an outright ban on data centers. He further argued that companies seeking to develop such projects are not acting primarily in the community’s interest, particularly when disputes over Colorado River water supplies remain a concern for Imperial Valley residents.

After hearing public comments, several council members expressed support for stronger restrictions on data centers. Councilmembers Lisa Tylenda and Diana Nuricumbo favored a complete ban on data center development. Nuricumbo said Calexico already faces numerous challenges that need to be addressed and suggested the city consider prohibiting data centers altogether rather than continuing to revisit the issue in the future.