Supervisors to debate solar farm cap, key appointments

EL CENTRO — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors will tackle major issues Tuesday, including a proposed two-year moratorium on converting most agricultural land for solar and battery storage projects and a critical decision on a large-scale solar project near Ocotillo.

The regular meeting, set for Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, will feature a packed agenda covering energy development, environmental litigation, and the appointment of two top county officials.

Agricultural land use, energy moratorium

A key action item for the afternoon session focuses on the growing pressure to convert prime farmland into renewable energy sites.

County Executive Officer Dr. Kathleen Lang is requesting the board consider a temporary cap and moratorium for two years that would limit new solar and battery development to no more than 7% of the county’s total agricultural acreage.

The proposal is paired with a directive for county staff to immediately launch a comprehensive, 12-month study on the impacts of renewable energy development on agricultural land use, water resources, and the local economy.

Simultaneously, the board is scheduled to discuss a letter of support for Controlled Thermal Resource’s Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Projects, a geothermal and lithium extraction effort on the Salton Sea’s southern end.

Major solar project

At 2:00 p.m., the board will hold a public hearing on the Big Rock 2 Cluster Solar and Battery Storage Project.

The hearing is the culmination of a lengthy review process and will require the board to vote on a series of resolutions, including:

• Approval or denial of the Water Supply Assessment.
• Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).
• Approving or denying the Conditional Use Permits (CUPs) and associated variances for the four distinct clusters of the project.

Following the hearing, the board will consider a Public Service Agreement with 8ME, LLC, the developer of the Big Rock 2 project, related to the four clusters.

Top county positions

The supervisors will first convene in a closed session to address several sensitive matters, including:

• Existing Litigation: The board is scheduled to confer with legal counsel regarding prominent cases, including Comite Civico Del Valle, Earthworks v. County of Imperial, currently before the California Fourth Appellate District, and three other Imperial County Superior Court cases.
• Anticipated Litigation: The board will also discuss four matters related to significant exposure to future litigation.
• Appointments: The closed session is expected to include deliberations on appointing two high-level officials: a Human Resources Director and a Public Works Director.

Community and environmental action

In open session, the board will also address community and environmental concerns:

• Salton Sea Conservancy: Board Chairman John Hawk requested action to appoint an Imperial County representative to the Salton Sea Conservancy Board of Directors, a new board established by Senate Bill 583.
• Air Quality Improvements: The board, sitting as the Air Pollution Control District, is set to approve $5.42 million in funding for two separate paving projects—Paving Project #CAP6-04 and #CAP6-05—in the Seeley Townsite. The projects, funded by the Assembly Bill 617 Community Air Protection Program, aim to reduce particulate matter pollution in the community. The board will also vote on a resolution to allow a 50% reduction in air quality fees for hay barns in the county in response to the Economic Emergency Resolution adopted earlier in the year.
• Youth Support: Several items on the consent calendar involve approving over $2,500 in support from Community Benefit Accounts to local youth sports teams, including the El Centro Youth Football Association and 760 Elite, for national tournament travel expenses.