Minnehaha, Lincoln counties look to shape regulations for large data centers

Minnehaha County is at the starting point of drafting regulations on large data centers, following a Planning Commission meeting in which members of the public expressed concerns.

Meanwhile, similar issues are playing out in Lincoln County, prompting the commission to schedule a joint meeting with the Sioux Falls City Council in October that will feature representatives of utilities, residents, data centers and others. The meeting was scheduled following testimony during a joint city-Lincoln County meeting on Aug. 25.

Hyperscale data centers were the focus of legislative attention earlier this year, with lawmakers passing a law requiring data centers to pay their own utility costs and to face scrutiny over water usage by local water providers. Electricity costs and water usage are among the chief concerns voiced by critics of data centers.