Imperial County Board Denies Appeal Against Hell’s Kitchen Geothermal and Lithium Extraction Project
In a decisive 5-0 vote, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors upheld the County Planning Commission’s mid-December decision, denying an appeal by the Comité Cívico del Valle (CVC) against the Hell’s Kitchen geothermal and lithium extraction project. The project, spearheaded by Control Thermal Resources (CTR), aims to generate 49.9 megawatts of geothermal green energy and over 20,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide, silica, and potentially boron compounds for commercial use.
Despite the potential economic benefits outlined by Managing Partner Michael Bracken, who estimated a $2.1 billion initial investment, 250 construction jobs, and 75 permanent full-time jobs with an average annual wage of $87,000, concerns raised by the CVC led to a legal battle.
The CVC, represented by the Law Office of Jordan Sisson, filed an appeal last month, citing various issues with the project. Sisson highlighted CTR’s alleged reluctance to engage meaningfully with the community, describing the corporation’s approach as “take it or leave it.” Sisson stressed the need for safeguards to address environmental issues and urged the county to incorporate promises made by CTR into legally binding agreements.
During the hearing, Sisson emphasized the lack of meaningful outreach from CTR, alleging that the corporation forced the county into the appeal hearing. Despite concerns, Sisson expressed the CVC’s willingness to collaborate with both the county and CTR to address the issues and move the project forward.
In response, CTR’s President Jim Turner defended the project, which has been in progress for a decade. Turner addressed concerns raised by the CVC, committing to developing the area with a clean energy campus to mitigate dust emissions.
Support for the project came from San Diego-based nonprofit Great Ecology CEO Mark Laska, who praised CTR’s commitment to environmental standards. Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation Vice President Sean Wilcock and several union representatives endorsed the project, emphasizing job opportunities, middle-class wages, and environmental benefits.
After the board’s vote to deny the appeal and postpone the item for 30 days, the CVC took legal action against the decision, indicating a continued and contentious battle over the Hell’s Kitchen project in Imperial County. The outcome of this dispute will likely shape the trajectory of geothermal and lithium extraction projects in the region, balancing economic opportunities with environmental and community concerns.