Data center moratorium passes in Yankton County, South Dakota
Yankton County Commissioners in South Dakota unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on new data center and bitcoin mining facility permits. This decision provides the county time to study potential economic and environmental impacts and draft appropriate regulations for future data center development.
The Yankton County Commissioners in South Dakota unanimously passed a six-month moratorium on data center and bitcoin mining facility permits during a packed meeting. This decision followed nearly an hour of public comment, where opinions from both sides were heard. The initial proposal was for a 12-month moratorium, but commissioners opted for a shorter, six-month period with an option to extend it if an ordinance is not drafted by then.
The moratorium will halt the issuance of any new permits to build data centers or bitcoin mining facilities. Commissioners stated that this pause would allow the county to thoroughly study the potential economic and environmental effects of data centers. The goal is to create comprehensive regulations and guidelines for future data center development within the county, ensuring that any new projects are well-planned and managed.
One speaker likened relying on data centers for budget shortfalls to "putting a band-aid on a gashing wound," warning of potential long-term issues. Another emphasized the importance of education and facts over fear-driven decisions, urging continued discussion. The Commissioners also directed the Planning and Zoning department to immediately begin work on crafting a new ordinance for data centers.