South Dakota PUC Hopefuls Clash Over AI Data Center Moratorium
Frank Kloucek says a pause would let South Dakota study grid and water impacts before more projects move ahead.
- South Dakota Democratic Public Utilities Commission candidate Frank Kloucek proposed a one-year moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centers, arguing the state needs more local control over development.
- Republican Gov. Larry Rhoden signed data center regulations into law earlier this year, but Kloucek contends the laws 'lack any teeth' to protect ratepayers from increased energy costs.
- While proponents argue the facilities create high-paying jobs, 71 percent of respondents in a March Gallup survey opposed AI data centers, and 53 percent of MAGA Republicans rejected them.
- President Donald Trump recently claimed opposition to data centers leaves communities 'backwards and poor,' drawing criticism from Burchett and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- The National Republican Senatorial Committee recently warned Senator Jon Husted of Ohio that political controversy over data centers could impact his election outcome, the New York Times reported.
15 Articles
15 Articles
The Daily Republic
South Dakota utility regulator candidates clash over AI data center pause
A South Dakota Democratic Public Utilities Commission candidate is calling for a one-year ban on new artificial intelligence data centers in the state, while his Republican opponent calls the proposal “reckless and pandering” and says new state laws regulating the industry are sufficient. Frank Kloucek, a farmer from rural Scotland, South Dakota, and a Democratic former 22-year state lawmaker, proposed the moratorium. He said large data centers …
South Dakota PUC Hopefuls Clash Over AI Data Center Moratorium
A South Dakota Democratic Public Utilities Commission candidate is calling for a one-year ban on new artificial intelligence data centers in the state, while his Republican opponent calls the proposal “reckless and pandering” and says new state laws regulating the…
SuperPACs are funneling millions of dollars into pro-AI candidates, with Trump saying communities that reject data centers will end up ‘backwards and poor’
AI is being backed by millions of dollars worth of PAC funding, and the future of American data centers could be decided by the midterm elections.
The U.S. president, in whose eyes the data centres are a "gold egg hen," attracted the lightnings of the Democratic opposition.
Trump’s ‘backwards and poor’ insult blows up in his face as MAGA lawmaker fires back
Donald Trump wanted to shame communities that aren’t eager to welcome massive AI data centers. Instead, one of his own Republican allies basically looked at the president and said: Fine. I guess I’m “backwards and poor.” Rep. Tim Burchett, a longtime Trump ally, pushed back against the president’s aggressive campaign to get communities across the […]
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