At a recent joint meeting of the Lincoln County Commission and the Sioux Falls City Council, a simple vote on a 25-year growth plan was transformed into a referendum on data center development across the region. One politically-savvy commissioner proposed a moratorium on building new data centers. He’s not alone. A wave of Democrat state legislative candidates recently launched a campaign effort calling for a moratorium.

Both Republicans and Democrats recognize where today’s political winds are blowing.

In reality, this debate shouldn’t be about whether we build data centers but how we build them, and ensuring they benefit our people and communities. Communities that engage with these projects are dictating terms and scoring big wins for their residents. As Sioux Falls Mayor Christine Erickson recently noted, having a seat at the table benefits the community.

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Puddy my Buddy1 month ago

I couldn't disagree with this Viewpoint more. You will NEVER convince me these data centers are necessary or good for any community. The lie about "closed loop" systems using very little water couldn't be further from the truth. Wasn't the Ellendale ND data center project sold to the community as a closed loop system? I heard just yesterday that Ellendale has contracted with the City of Aberdeen for water needs as Ellendale is low on water. Apparently millions of gallons of water have already been hauled to North Dakota.

Money is the root of all evil. I suspect this viewpoint author is paid very well to try to get the good people of South Dakota to drink the data center koolaid. I pray most people are smart enough to see through this BS.

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Michelle Oftedahl1 month ago

As usual almost the entire argument is about money... Look how much your community will make! See all the shiny objects you can have? No, don't look any deeper, don't ask any questions about the future. Definitely don't wonder why this sounds so similar to the scammer tactics your bank warns you about... "Act now or you'll miss out on the biggest opportunity of your life! If you don't send the money immediately, the threat to your grandchildren is imminent!" Our communities are 100% sick of being talked down to by what is turning out to be nothing more than a group of big money-backed conmen.

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Les Wolff1 month ago

Thanks for the earlier comments. All were a bullet point in my intended comment. 51 years in the backside of electronic comms and 44 years in both hardware and software IT. We were arguing the AI merits and lack thereof 30 years ago, Joe. I do understand. Both of my kids are in the upper level of Corporate structure and all my experience also came from those success's and failures. I pray for the best for this generation.

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The Heart of Everything1 month ago

Just a little follow-up, in addition to living and raising his children in Sioux Falls, Joe is Senior Vice President in BSG’s Communications Practice, working on high-level media engagement strategies across a range of clients. Prior to joining BSG, Joe served in communications roles for multiple members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, and led media operations for a national Super PAC. Bullpen Strategy Group (BSG) is a user of AI and their mission is in part to transform complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives that drive results. None of that means Joe shouldn’t write an op-ed advocating for his point of view, but it does reinforce the need to know one’s source in order to understand the bias inherent in that viewpoint. Seems like Dakota Scout might have included that information. Anyway, on the Ellendale front: https://www.thedakotascout.com/p/aberdeen-providing-bulk-water-to-north-dakota-data-center?

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Dean Nasser1 month ago(edited)

A seat at the table is a very bad metaphor. That would be like giving someone who has threatened to do harm to you a vote on how and when he gets to do it. Whether we wish to take risks and if so the risk/benefit analysis is up to us - we whose lives will be disrupted by the burdens of these data centers as they evolve beyond what we now envision they are in the present. --- It is insulting that the author recites that we can make a bunch of money in taxes, etc. as if our quality of life is for sale. --- It would not be difficult to repeal a moratorium if it proves to be in the best interests of the people to do so. We do not need another carbon pipeline debacle where big money leverages itself down our throats. --- The allowing of such burdens (as well as the weighing of any benefits) should always be by public referendum or initiative. It is important to keep a proper mindset on this. No seat at the table.

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The Heart of Everything1 month ago

Gotta love the Chinese fear-mongering—X shut down 200,000 Chinese accounts! I remember when X shut down 200,000 Russian accounts trying to convince people to vote for Dumb-old Trump. Not. Anyone relying on X to provide fact-based evidence of anything is an idiot—it’s owned by a billionaire who has invested heavily in AI and the infrastructure required to maintain it. This is a man who is pouring money into politicians and political efforts that represent his self-interest. When people like Bill Gates and a host of people working in the industry tell us it’s time to pump the brakes on AI (and the data centers that support it), I think it’s worth a listen. I don’t know what Joe does, but this whole notion that we have to race to build data centers and deploy AI is just so much bullshit. If AI is truly the panacea Joe claims, a moratorium won’t stop it. In the meantime, he can move to a progressive community like Ellendale, ND!

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