Data Centers in South Dakota
At least 2 data centers have been tracked across South Dakota — the 46th state by data-center buildout in the country by capacity.
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Every one of those 2 data centers draws power and water from the same grid you rely on — reshaping where South Dakota rates, land use, and water go, whether or not anyone put it to a vote. Here’s what that means, and what you can do about it.
Statewide, an industry analysis counts about 5 operational and 2 planned or under‑construction data centers in South Dakota, plus an estimated $1,000 million in projected 10‑year tax revenue — the map below shows the 2 we’ve pinned so far, so help us map the rest. Statewide totals: American Edge Project & TECNA, Dec 2025.
- Oct 27, 2026 On the agenda: Canton Joint Lincoln County and City of Sioux Falls Elected Officials — Data Center (Oct 27)
- Oct 27, 2026 Joint Lincoln County and City of Sioux Falls Elected Officials Meeting
- Oct 19, 2026 On the agenda: Leola city_council_meeting_minutes_10.19.2026.pdf — Data Center (Oct 19)
- Oct 19, 2026 On the agenda: Aberdeen minutes — data center (Oct 19)
Every record for this area on the Docket → · nothing is ever deleted.
No new reports near South Dakota in the last 30 days — checked hourly, last checked Oct 28, 13:21 UTC. Cameras only get on the map when someone looks: be the one.
What these facilities actually do
Hyperscale data centers aren’t ordinary warehouses. Each one draws megawatts of power and millions of gallons of water, and locks in decades of tax abatements — deals routinely approved with little public scrutiny. Across South Dakota, that’s 2 facilities quietly reshaping the grid, water table, and tax base. See how the buildout works and where the power and water go.
How South Dakota compares
South Dakota ranks #46 of 52 states and territories by tracked data-center capacity — part of a fast-growing national footprint. Nationwide, we have tracked over 2,000 megawatts and counting. Nearby by camera count: Arkansas (2), District of Columbia (1), Vermont (1), West Virginia (2).
The latest from South Dakota
- Major meeting in Sioux Falls Tuesday on proposed hyperscale data center
- South Dakota utility regulator candidates clash over AI data center pause
- Yankton County , South Dakota county commissioners pass data center moratorium
- South Dakotans pack Vermillion Library for community conversation on data centers
- Data center regulation bill passes South Dakota House
On camera in South Dakota — each opens right here on GridWatch:
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What you can do in South Dakota
You don’t have to accept it — and you don’t have to be anti-growth to demand accountability. File a public records request to learn a project’s power draw, water use, and abatement terms, speak up at a city-council meeting, and see the full playbook on our Take Action page.
Not sure what one looks like? See photographs of installed cameras before you go looking.
No local chapter in South Dakota yet — be the first, and we’ll list you.
Data centers by city in South Dakota
We track 1 South Dakota cities and towns with tracked data centers — each with its own local report: