Cblg Challenges Imperial County's approval of massive Data Center Complex

5/27/2026

Chatten-Brown Law Group is representing the Sierra Club San Diego Chapter in a lawsuit file on May 8, 2026, challenging Imperial County's approval of a proposed large-scale data center project without the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

The petition challenges the County's approval of a lot line adjustment and related actions that would facilitate construction of a nearly one-million-square-foot data center complex. As stated by CBLG attorney Kathryn Pettit in the KPBS article, the County improperly segmented the project into smaller approvals in an effort to avoid comprehensive environmental review, contrary to CEQA's prohibition against piecemeal project approval.

The proposed development has generated significant public concern due to its anticipated demand for water and electricity, its proximity to residential neighborhoods, and its potential impacts on air quality, noise, public safety, and other environmental resources. The petition also alleges that the County departed from required procedures by approving the project before the Planning Commission completed its review.

Sierra Club is not opposed to data centers as a category of development. Rather, the lawsuit seeks to ensure that any project of this magnitude undergoes the thorough environmental review and public process required by California law before construction proceeds.

KPBS News Article