Yankton County in SD is latest Siouxland county with data center moratorium
Yankton County, South Dakota, has unanimously placed a six-month moratorium on large data center and cryptocurrency projects, with a formal ordinance vote pending. Residents expressed concerns about the environmental impact of such facilities. This action follows similar moratoriums in other regional counties and new state legislation regarding data center utility rates and local control.
The Yankton County Commission in South Dakota recently imposed a six-month moratorium on new large-scale data center and cryptocurrency projects. This decision was made unanimously by the commissioners, who are expected to vote on a formal ordinance at their upcoming meeting. Residents voiced concerns regarding the potential environmental impacts of such developments and urged the commission to thoroughly research future projects.
This move by Yankton County follows similar moratoriums enacted in at least 16 Nebraska counties and several northwest Iowa counties, including Woodbury, Plymouth, and Sioux, which have implemented 12-month pauses. The action also comes shortly after the July 1 implementation of South Dakota's "data center bill of rights," a new state law requiring data centers to cover any utility rate increases they cause and affirming local control over data center ordinances.