VIEWPOINT | South Dakota has opportunity for 'Data Centers Done Right'

Guest column by Congressman Dusty Johnson

South Dakota needs growth with a purpose. Not growth for its own sake, but growth that keeps taxes low and creates opportunities for the next generation.

President Trump has called for an “era of American AI dominance.” We cannot allow China or others to dominate artificial intelligence (AI), and there is a role for South Dakota in that race. Data centers are a critical component of AI dominance, and when sited correctly, they provide tremendous benefit to local communities. An AI data center proposed for Deuel County would pay an estimated $5 million in property taxes annually. Currently the annual budget for Deuel County is $11 million and for Deubrook School District it is $3.4 million.

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