Controlled Thermal Resources Shifts Focus to AI Data Centers Amid Lithium Industry Challenges in Imperial County
Controlled Thermal Resources plans to build six geothermal power plants in Imperial County, generating 600 megawatts for AI data centers. This shift highlights challenges facing the local lithium industry, including diminished market prospects and legal hurdles. While CTR remains committed to lithium extraction, the company acknowledges delays and the need for a dual focus on energy production. Environmental advocates express concern over potential job impacts, as data centers may offer fewer long-term roles compared to lithium projects.
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Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) is shifting its focus to constructing six geothermal power plants in Imperial County to generate 600 megawatts of energy for data centers. This change reflects challenges in the local lithium industry, exacerbated by decreased interest in lithium since the end of federal EV tax credits.
CTR faces a lawsuit that aims to pause its lithium program, while competition from other states accelerates. The growth of AI technology is driving energy demand, with California data centers' usage doubling since 2019.
CTR aims to utilize the region's geothermal resources, despite acknowledging delays in lithium extraction timelines to 2028. Executives from CTR, BHE Renewables, and EnergySource Minerals remain committed to lithium efforts but express concerns about the potential job impacts from the shift toward data centers.
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