Developers are descending on a rural desert community along California’s Mexican border, trying to build over $15 billion worth of data centers to power Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom. But concerns over pollution and Colorado River water use have turned one of the projects into a charged legal fight. …  Imperial Valley Computer Manufacturing LLC, started purchasing land for the project in 2024, spending $12 million on 95 acres in the city of Imperial, as well as $15 million more for land in the county and nearby city of El Centro, according to a lawsuit filed last month. … [The] company has also said that the data center will send its used water to the Salton Sea, helping reduce air pollution from the drying body of water.

Other Salton Sea news:

• The Desert Review (Brawley, Calif.): California State Parks seeks public input on Salton Sea State Recreation Area General Plan
• KYMA (Yuma, Ariz.): New energy complex coming to Salton Sea area
• Coyote Gulch: Blog: Nitrates draining into the Salton Sea underestimated by a factor of ten
• Digital Journal: Blog: Landowner takes unconventional approach to selling Salton Sea property
• The Uken Report: Opinion: Salton Sea — living lake or dust field?
• San Diego Reader: Essay: Bombsy Beach — a truly strange place