Data Center Amendments shut down at commission meeting
Two amendments related to data centers, including a temporary moratorium and a ban on non-disclosure agreements, were proposed to the Lincoln County Commission and Sioux Falls City Council. Both amendments were rejected in a 3-2 vote by the county commission. Despite the setback, further public discussion on data centers in Canton is planned for late October.
Two significant amendments concerning data center development were deliberated at a joint meeting between the Lincoln County Commission and the Sioux Falls City Council.
Commissioner Joel Arenss introduced proposals for a temporary moratorium on data centers and a ban on non-disclosure agreements related to development within the joint jurisdictional area. Arenss articulated that these amendments reflected public sentiment, stating, "people don't want big data centers here," and highlighted concerns about the impact of hyperscale data centers, mentioning companies like Meta, Google, and Amazon, and the potential 20-30% devaluation of real estate due to proximity to associated power lines.
Despite the arguments for their passage, both amendments were ultimately rejected by the county commission in a 3-2 vote. The outcome elicited mixed reactions from residents, with some expressing satisfaction that the issue was being addressed, while others voiced strong criticism over the failure to enact a moratorium.
Following the vote, the county commission and city council agreed to convene again in the last week of October for a broader public discussion on data centers in Canton.