Permits & regulation
Judge overturns Imperial County data-center approval and orders environmental review
Confirmed
- Date
- 2026-09-09
- Location
- Imperial County, CA
- Category
- Permits & regulation
KPBS reported that Judge Brooks Anderholt ruled on September 9 that Imperial County had illegally shielded the proposed data-center complex from California Environmental Quality Act review when approving it in April. The decision followed challenges brought by the City of Imperial and the Sierra Club. CalMatters identifies the developer's description of the facility as hyperscale and exclusively for advanced AI and machine learning. This was a ruling about approval and environmental review, not proof that every environmental harm alleged by opponents would occur. Developer Sebastian Rucci said he would seek a new trial and potentially appeal. The ruling and KPBS publication share the September 9 date; the cited account does not establish subsequent appellate outcomes.