Poll: Voters split on Thune and Trump job performance
A statewide South Dakota poll found that more than half of likely voters oppose data centers and believe artificial intelligence has a negative effect on society. Researchers said the issue crosses party lines and is likely to be debated increasingly at the local level after Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a data center regulation bill.
The latest South Dakota Poll found broad public concern about data centers and artificial intelligence. More than half of 500 likely voters surveyed opposed data centers being built in the state and said AI has a negative impact on society, with opposition spanning Democratic and Republican respondents.
University of South Dakota professor Julia Hellwege said Gov. Larry Rhoden’s signing of SB 135, known as the “Data Center Bill of Rights,” reflects the complexity of the issue and could shift debate toward local governments. Augustana University professor Emily Wanless said opposition may be growing as data centers become associated with broader concerns about AI, potentially overshadowing their economic-development arguments.