South Dakota’s Data Center Dilemma | Sioux Falls News

Sioux Falls News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 29, 2026 · 1m

South Dakota’s quiet plains are getting a tech boom—data centers, especially the power-hungry hyperscale kind, are sparking debate. With some of the nation’s cheapest electricity and wind-powered grids, the state is an attractive spot for companies chasing green energy goals. Cooler temps also help keep servers cool and costs down. But locals worry about water use, noise, and zoning chaos. Lawmakers turned down tax breaks, killing one project but letting another in Sioux Falls proceed. New rules now force data centers to pay for their own power and partner with local water providers…