At a city council meeting earlier this month, the Palm Desert City Council approved an agreement to help fund a new power substation to help provide electricity to both the north and south sides of Interstate 10 in central Coachella Valley areas. 

The proposed substation would be located on the north side of I-10 near Cook Street and will cost roughly $42 million. Entities such as Imperial Irrigation District (IID), Riverside County, the city of Rancho Mirage, and HN and Frances C. Berger Foundation are working together to fund the substation. 

Local officials say the substation is imperative for new developments that fall within the IID jurisdiction, including about 70 acres west of Costco and several small parcels along Gerald Ford, east of Cook St.

Palm Desert’s council has agreed to pay $5.6 million via bonds for 10 megawatts of the project’s total power capacity. The substation is expected to break ground in 2027 and become operational mid-2028.