The City of Ridgecrest has formally petitioned to become an intervenor in the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) review of the proposed RB Inyokern Data Center, seeking a direct role in evaluating the project’s potential impacts on the Indian Wells Valley.

The petition, filed July 20, asks the CEC to grant the City intervenor status in the Small Power Plant Exemption proceeding for the proposed project. If approved, Ridgecrest would become an official party in the case, allowing the City to submit evidence, participate in hearings, comment on environmental analyses and question witnesses throughout the state’s review.

Unlike members of the public who may submit comments during the review process, intervenors are allowed to participate more directly in proceedings before the CEC. The City argues that designation is necessary to ensure the CEC has sufficient information to fully evaluate the project before making a decision.

In its petition, Ridgecrest emphasized that it has not taken a position on whether the data center should ultimately be approved.

Instead, city officials said they are seeking intervenor status to ensure the CEC has sufficient evidence to fully evaluate the project’s potential impacts on regional water resources, electrical infrastructure, greenhouse gas emissions, economic development and the long-term sustainability of the Indian Wells Valley.

“The City has not reached a position regarding support or opposition of the Project,” the petition states. “Rather, the City seeks intervenor status to ensure that the record developed before the CEC contains sufficient evidence regarding the Project’s impacts on the region and the residents and businesses served by the City.”

The proposed RB Inyokern Data Center would be constructed near the intersection of U.S. Highway 395 and State Route 178 in Inyokern. According to project information submitted to the CEC, the facility would include a data center supported by emergency diesel-powered backup generators capable of producing up to 99 megawatts of electricity during utility outages. The project is currently undergoing review through the CEC’s Small Power Plant Exemption process.

Much of Ridgecrest’s petition focuses on groundwater sustainability in the Indian Wells Valley Basin.

The City notes that the basin has been designated as critically overdrafted and is already subject to ongoing efforts aimed at reducing groundwater extraction and achieving long-term sustainability. Officials argue the proposed project could increase pressure on local water supplies during both construction and operation.

According to the petition, the City wants the CEC to require additional analysis of the project’s expected water demand, verify water supply assumptions, and evaluate cumulative impacts on the basin.

Officials are also requesting consideration of potential mitigation measures, including whether recycled water could be used as part of the project’s proposed hybrid cooling system.

The City also raised concerns about the project’s anticipated electrical demand and whether it could affect future development throughout the region.

According to the petition, the proposed facility would connect through the same electrical substation that serves much of Ridgecrest and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. However, city officials say key transmission studies prepared by Southern California Edison have not been made publicly available, making it difficult to determine how much existing capacity is available or whether additional infrastructure upgrades would be required.

Without those studies, the City argues it cannot fully evaluate whether the project could affect future housing developments, commercial growth, government facilities or other users that may rely on the same electrical infrastructure.

The petition also calls for additional review of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the project, including emissions generated through construction, backup power systems and long-term operations.

City officials say they want the CEC to ensure all direct and indirect emissions are accurately quantified and that cumulative climate impacts are fully analyzed before any approval is granted.

Beyond greenhouse gas emissions, Ridgecrest is asking the CEC to evaluate cumulative impacts on transportation, water resources, electrical infrastructure and regional growth, arguing those issues cannot be considered independently from existing pressures already facing the Indian Wells Valley.

Another significant concern outlined in the petition is whether dedicating a substantial portion of available electrical transmission capacity to a single project could affect the region’s long-term growth.

The City argues that without access to transmission studies, it cannot determine whether the project could limit future residential construction, commercial development, renewable energy projects or defense-related expansion in the region.

Officials also expressed concern that limited electrical capacity could make it more difficult to meet future housing needs or increase infrastructure costs for future projects.

The CEC has not yet ruled on Ridgecrest’s request for intervenor status.