Sebastian Rucci's AI datacenter plan halted by California judge
Sebastian Rucci, a 66‑year‑old lawyer turned developer, has spent about $5 million planning a roughly 1 million‑square‑foot AI datacenter on a 75‑acre plot in Imperial County. The project, which would draw 330 megawatts of power – enough for a city the size of Tallahassee – was pitched to Google, which later said it had no formal agreement with Rucci. Rucci’s umbrella company, Imperial Valley…
Key points
- Rucci has invested about $5 million in a 1 million‑sq‑ft AI datacenter plan in Imperial County
- Google was reportedly interested but later said it had no formal agreement with Rucci
- A county judge halted the project pending a full environmental review after multiple lawsuits and a 45‑day moratorium
Local opposition grew quickly. Over the past year more than half a dozen lawsuits were filed, a 45‑day moratorium was approved, and a petition signed by about 3,500 residents was submitted. Residents fear increased emissions, strain on the power grid, water scarcity, and noise, while the county judge ruled last month that the project cannot proceed until an extensive environmental review is completed. The dispute highlights the tension between AI‑driven industrial growth and California’s strict environmental regulations.
Inside the long, bitter fight over one man’s quest to build the biggest AI datacenter in California
The Guardian AI · 17 October 2026
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