El Centro ratifies letter of support for Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen project
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Summary
The council ratified a pre‑submitted letter of support for Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power project near the Salton Sea, citing county economic and renewable energy considerations; vote was 4‑0.
The El Centro City Council on Oct. 21 ratified a letter of support the mayor and staff submitted on Oct. 2 for Controlled Thermal Resources’ Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power project, a renewable energy and critical minerals development proposed near the Salton Sea.
Acting city manager Robert Sawyer told the council CTR is a U.S. company developing lithium and renewable power projects in Imperial County. He said the Hell’s Kitchen project, at the northern end of the county near the Salton Sea, seeks to demonstrate ways to generate renewable power and recover critical minerals, and that the company requested local support while navigating permitting and project development.
Sawyer said the city prepared and submitted a letter of support on Oct. 2 before the council’s Oct. 21 meeting and asked the council to ratify that submission. He noted that litigation and other regional developments are ongoing in the Salton Sea/Lithium Valley area but said the CTR project aims to advance 24‑7 clean energy and critical minerals development.
A councilmember moved and seconded the ratification, and the motion passed 4‑0. The ratified letter appears in the council packet at page 253.
City staff said the letter does not bind the council to future approvals and that ratification recognizes the city’s interest in the project’s potential economic and energy benefits. The council did not take other formal land‑use actions at the meeting.
