City Council Meeting 6/3/2026

The City Council meeting of Ridgecrest on June 3, 2026, focused heavily on community concerns regarding the proposed Inyokern data center project. The council heard extensive public commentary both in support of and opposition to the project, with key issues raised including water usage, environmental impact, noise, light pollution, economic benefits, and job creation. The developer, represented by Sean Hungerford of RNL Capital, emphasized the local nature of the company, the transparency of the California Energy Commission (CEC) review process, and the economic benefits including construction jobs and tax revenue. Council members discussed the importance of monitoring the project closely, with a consensus to seek intervenor status in the CEC process to have a formal role in the review and to direct staff to engage actively in the environmental review and permitting process. No final vote on the project was taken, but there was a motion to draft a resolution opposing the data center that failed to gain a second. Other agenda items included updates on local events, senior services, infrastructure projects, and committee reports. The meeting reflected strong community engagement and a cautious approach by the council toward the data center development.