Simplified: Hundreds of people filled Carnegie Town Hall for a more than three-hour public meeting on Tuesday night to talk about data centers and share concerns with elected officials from the Sioux Falls City Council and the Lincoln County Commission. But unlike the typical long line of public input – though that was still part of it – this meeting gave a full hour for public officials to chat in small groups with residents.

Why it matters

  • Earlier this year, the Sioux Falls City Council voted unanimously to pave the way for a hyperscale data center in northeast Sioux Falls after four hours of public input – largely in opposition.
  • Since then, residents have turned up time and time again to speak out against data centers at public meetings, including a contentious joint city-county meeting in August at which point officials agreed to the public meeting held Tuesday night.
  • Tuesday's meeting was a unique format centered on civic engagement and listening to residents. Residents arranged themselves in groups of 10-15 people, and both councilors and commissioners moved from group to group listening and discussing unanswered questions on data centers, impacts on the community and what expertise officials should seek as they look to establish policy around these facilities.
"It's very different to sit down one-on-one with people to talk compared to getting emails or hearing people at the dais," Councilor James Oppenheimer said, adding, "It’s a very clear message from the public that they are not in favor of having data centers in Sioux Falls."

Tell me more

Tuesday's meeting started with a presentation from Brent Van Aartsen, chief technology officer for Dakota State University, who spoke as a subject-matter expert on data centers. Van Aartsen outlined the types of data centers and the various ways in which they operate.

  • After that, planning officials from the city and county shared the existing zoning ordinances and where data centers might be permitted.

Then – in a move atypical of local government – the meeting recessed for a full hour while officials spoke to small groups of residents to hear their specific questions and concerns.

The overflow room at Carnegie Town Hall was standing-room only during the meeting Tuesday night. Photo: Megan Raposa

After that, councilors and commissioners shared their takeaways before opening up to another hour-plus of public input before recessing around 10:15 p.m.

Takeaways from officials included acknowledging the overall agreement that people don't want hyperscale data centers in Sioux Falls.

"It is so interesting in this country today, nobody gets along on anything except for data center opposition," Commissioner Joel Arends said. "The community is prioritizing quality fo life over the perceived or real benefits of a data center."

Additionally, councilors and commissioners noted still-unanswered questions about how any rules they put into place now would impact the proposed Gemini data center in northeast Sioux Falls.

What happens next?

The Sioux Falls City Council has engaged its Regulatory Oversight Committee to look closer at potential ordinances related to data centers. That group's next meeting will be Nov. 9. Folks are also able to share feedback online.

  • Councilors also asked for feedback on whether the community would like to see more of these types of public meetings with space for residents to talk directly with elected officials.