Arends to propose data center moratorium, NDA ban in Sioux Falls joint jurisdictional area
Lincoln County Commissioner Joel Arends plans to propose a data center moratorium and a ban on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in the joint jurisdictional area shared with Sioux Falls. This proposal will be reviewed during a joint meeting of the Lincoln County Commission and Sioux Falls City Council on August 25th in Canton, South Dakota. Arends previously attempted a similar moratorium in February, which failed, but public concerns about electricity and water consumption, as well as noise pollution, were voiced.
Lincoln County Commissioner Joel Arends is set to propose a data center moratorium and a ban on non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) within the joint jurisdictional area of Lincoln County and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The proposals will be reviewed during a joint meeting with the Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday, August 25, in Canton.
Arends' proposed moratorium aims to temporarily halt governmental approvals for data center construction, allowing local officials time to assess their impacts before further projects proceed. This follows a similar moratorium on "AI hyperscale data centers" that Arends introduced to the Lincoln County Commission in February, which ultimately failed due to a lack of a second. Public comments during the prior attempt highlighted concerns about electricity and water consumption, noise pollution, and potential health impacts.
Separately, Arends is advocating for a prohibition on NDAs in all development matters within the joint jurisdictional area, not just those pertaining to data centers. He emphasized the importance of transparency in community decisions, stating, "Decisions affecting our communities should be made with transparency, not secrecy." This initiative comes after a related bill in the South Dakota Legislature, which sought to prohibit non-disclosure of certain data center agreements, failed earlier this year. Arends is encouraging public attendance and comment at the upcoming meeting at the Lincoln County Courthouse.