Related Articles
-Editorial
Imperial County officials announced the release of the Draft Lithium Valley Specific Plan (LVSP) and Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), along with proposed General Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments and a Construction Workforce Ordinance. The release marks a major step in the county’s ongoing effort to plan for Lithium Valley, a 51,622-acre area along the southeastern shore of the Salton Sea in unincorporated Imperial County, and to develop a vertically integrated ecosystem for geothermal energy, lithium production, and advanced manufacturing.
The draft plan and environmental report are available for public review from Dec. 30, 2025, through March 2, 2026. Residents, businesses, tribal governments, and other stakeholders are invited to submit comments by mail or email. The documents are available online at https://lithiumvalley.imperialcounty.org, at the Imperial County Planning & Development Services Department, and at the Imperial County Free Library, Calipatria Branch. Public hearings before the Board of Supervisors will be scheduled at a later date. Written comments are required for consideration in the final environmental review.
Imperial County has a long history of geothermal energy production, with facilities operating for more than 40 years. The Salton Sea Known Geothermal Resource Area (SSKGRA) has been identified as one of the largest domestic sources of lithium, with studies indicating up to 18 million metric tons of recoverable lithium in geothermal brine. The draft plan emphasizes sustainable, closed-loop extraction processes that do not rely on open-pit mining or evaporation ponds. After lithium recovery and energy production, the brine is reinjected into the reservoir, maintaining pressure and ensuring long-term operational and environmental compliance.
The Lithium Valley Specific Plan establishes a long-term framework for land use and zoning within the planning area, including green industrial uses such as geothermal energy, lithium recovery, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, logistics, community opportunity areas, conservation lands, floodplains, and agricultural overlays. The accompanying Draft PEIR evaluates potential environmental impacts across the entire planning area, including traffic, water supply, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, biological resources, cultural and tribal resources, noise, utilities, hazards, and public health considerations. It identifies mitigation measures and evaluates alternatives to inform future development.
The county has invested heavily in community and tribal engagement. More than 170 stakeholder meetings, 59 community workshops, and over 600 total engagement interactions have been conducted, covering local communities as well as national and international stakeholders. Senate Bill 125 provided $800,000 for engagement efforts, with more than $531,000 awarded to local organizations, including Comité Cívico del Valle, IV Equity and Justice, Los Amigos de la Comunidad, Raíces, and the Imperial Valley LGBT Resource Center. An additional $80,000 was allocated specifically for tribal engagement. A new request for proposals released in November 2025 will distribute remaining funds to support outreach during the current public review period.
The plan also emphasizes workforce development. Programs include the Imperial Valley College Lithium and Industrial Training (LIFT) program, San Diego State University’s Brawley STEM campus, and a Construction Workforce Ordinance that sets prevailing wage requirements and a 40% local hiring goal. The county aims to create high-quality jobs in construction, operations, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, environmental sciences, and support services.
Officials said the draft plan and PEIR reflect more than three years of technical studies, environmental review, agency coordination, and public input. The county said it seeks to balance renewable energy development, lithium recovery, and advanced manufacturing with conservation, agriculture, cultural preservation, and community benefits.
Written comments on the draft documents may be submitted by mail to the Imperial County Planning & Development Services Department, 801 Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243, or by email to publiccomment@co.imperial.ca.us with “LVSP 2025” in the subject line.
