A bill regulating large data centers in South Dakota is now on its way to Governor Larry Rhoden’s desk. The Senate has given final approval to Senate Bill 135, which would require data centers to cover the full cost of their utility demands and work with local water providers to ensure their usage doesn’t strain community supplies.
The bill also prevents the state from blocking cities or counties that want to regulate — or even ban — data center development.
Senator Taffy Howard says the measure is a good start but believes more issues still need attention, including noise and the need for more efficient cooling technology.
The House amended the bill so it applies only to data centers with a peak electricity demand of at least 10 megawatts, before sending it back to the Senate for final approval.
