Ridgecrest directs staff to seek intervener status in state review of proposed Ennequern data center

The Ridgecrest City Council directed staff on July 15 to pursue intervener status in the California Energy Commission’s small power plant exemption proceeding for the proposed Ennequern data center.

City Manager (Mister Reed) and legal staff said a timely petition would preserve the city’s ability to review technical materials, participate in hearings and receive relevant studies related to groundwater, electrical infrastructure and other community impacts. Staff clarified that filing as an intervener does not amount to opposition or approval of the project; it merely secures a participatory role in the administrative review process.

City attorneys cautioned that some technical information provided in the proceeding may be subject to nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidential handling, in which case the council would need to decide whether to review material in closed session. Councilmembers said they wanted the city to be at the table to protect municipal interests and to avoid missing deadlines for filings; staff said the petition would be finalized and filed shortly if council approved the direction.

What happens next: Staff will finalize the petition and attempt to file it within the CEC’s timeline so Ridgecrest can review environmental and technical materials in the docket and participate in hearings. Council emphasized the desire for regular updates and for staff to avoid entering NDAs except where necessary to preserve city rights, with such materials to be handled in closed session if needed.