Data Center debate fuels fiery Lincoln County-Sioux Falls joint meeting
A joint meeting between the Lincoln County Commission and Sioux Falls City Council became a heated debate over data center development. Commissioner Joel Arends proposed two amendments: a moratorium on data centers and a ban on non-disclosure agreements for development. Both amendments were rejected in a 3-2 vote, but the two bodies agreed to meet again for a general discussion on data centers.
Canton, S.D. - A joint meeting between the Lincoln County Commission and Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday night devolved into a contentious debate over data center development. The meeting, intended to adopt the 2050 Comprehensive Plan, instead focused on two amendments proposed by Commissioner Joel Arends.
Arends advocated for a temporary moratorium on data centers, asserting that officials "don't know enough about them yet" and need to "hit the timeout button." He also proposed a ban on non-disclosure agreements concerning development in the joint jurisdictional area. Arends argued against the presence of "hyperscale data centers" like those operated by Meta, Google, and Amazon, likening them to undesirable "U.S. Bank-sized stadium[s] in their backyard" and claiming they devalue real estate.
Both amendments were ultimately defeated in a 3-2 vote by the county commission. While some residents, like Amanda Kendall, expressed satisfaction that the issue was being discussed, others criticized the refusal to enact a moratorium. Despite the rejection of the amendments, the commission and city council agreed to reconvene in the last week of October for a broader discussion on data centers.