Green Empowerment Zone for the Salton Sea and Southeastern Desert Valleys.

Senator Padilla's proposal to establish a Green Empowerment Zone in California's southeastern desert region aims to accelerate economic development around the Salton Sea through coordinated investment in clean energy and critical minerals production. The zone would encompass the Imperial, Eastern Coachella, and Palo Verde Valleys, creating a unified economic region to attract public and private capital.

The legislation establishes a diverse governing board comprising local government officials, tribal representatives, business and labor leaders, educators, and community advocates to oversee the zone's activities through 2035. This board would identify priority projects, develop regional economic plans, and coordinate workforce training programs focused on expanding opportunities in renewable energy and manufacturing. The structure allows communities that have historically been assigned to different planning regions to work together on shared economic priorities.

Under the bill's provisions, the zone would serve as a hub for accessing state and federal funding, tax incentives, and business development programs. A formal process requires Imperial County to initiate the zone's creation through a resolution, followed by opt-in decisions from eligible cities within 45 business days. The zone must submit annual progress reports to the Legislature starting in 2027, tracking metrics like job creation, wage levels, business assistance provided, and investments secured.

The proposal builds on recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Lithium Extraction, which identified the need to treat the broader Salton Sea area as a distinct economic region. The commission noted the area's approximately 150,000 residents share economic characteristics centered on agriculture and tourism that differ from neighboring regions like San Diego County and the Inland Empire.