The most pathetic Data Centers built-- where they truck in coal or oil to operate the Data Center.

[Archimedes Plutonium]

There is this overwhelming desire to have a Data center near your location for jobs and money and growth. 

But does it make sense for health and environment.

The worst I can imagine of a Data Center in your location is where they cause Coal to be more mined and burned to supply the energy and thence ruin the air we breathe and environment where we live.

TRY to build these Data Centers near Hydroelectric facilities or Geothermal Electric plants or Nuclear Power stations.

Geothermal Electric Power Plants are the best option.

Here in Clay County  South Dakota, a Data Center makes no sense because Clay County has now electric power source.

If a Data Center is proposed for Clay County South Dakota we have the silly prospect of hauling in more coal to fuel a Data Center, more air pollution, more health problems, a bad environment.

Any proposed Data Center should First have a Energy Source Approval.

AP

[Archimedes Plutonium]

To build any Data Center in the USA, should have plenty of water, and a immediate source of clean electricity.

Here in South Dakota, do we have that????

Well, we can use the Missouri River, but do we have a immediate source of clean electricity??

The Internet says that Big Bend Dam, Fort Randall Dam, Gavins Point Dam, Oahe Dam, Sioux Falls Light and Power Hydro Electric Plant. But are they open and operational????

Looking for Geothermal power plants in South Dakota. The Internet says there are 0 electric power plants using geothermal.

But I do know that the Black Hills has geothermal locations.

Internet says that California hosts 53 of the 99 US geothermal power plants, Nevada ranks 2nd with 32 power plants. Oregon and Utah each have 4. Hawaii and Alaska two each, and Idaho and New Mexico one each.

The only COMMON SENSE building of Data Centers is where you have the Electrical Energy that is CLEAN and plenty of water. Any place else is a stupid money grab that pollutes the environment and makes people sick and poor.

South Dakota just does not have the clean Geothermal to warrant a Data Center. It may have enough HydroElectric to warrant a small tiny Data Center.

The Judgement of where Data Centers go, should be a National judgement that passes the test---- Do you have a appropriate Clean Energy source and do you have enough water. Any judgement less than this is a silly money grub grab.

AP

[Archimedes Plutonium]

I had thought most of South Dakota's electricity comes from coal mined in Wyoming. Surprised to see that South Dakota is a leader in renewables--- wind, hydro, but not geothermal.

The trouble with wind is whether it can be reliable. The winds of South Dakota are fierce, but like right now at this moment of writing we have no wind where I am. So, the question is--- can you run a Data center on the reliability or unreliability of Wind power.

Certainly, hydroelectric and especially geothermal are reliable. Even Nuclear is reliable.

CLEAN energy is the key, clean and reliable. Wind is clean, but is it reliable???

--- quoting a Google search of the electricity energy for South Dakota---

AI (artificial ignorance overview)

Most of South Dakota's electricity comes from renewable energy, specifically wind power and hydroelectric dams. Wind turbines generate over half of the state's electricity (around 57%), while hydroelectric plants on the Missouri River—such as the Oahe and Fort Randall dams—contribute over 20%.To break down the state's generation mix:Wind: ~57%Hydroelectric: ~22%Natural Gas: ~10%Coal: ~9%Solar/Other: ~2%Because of this heavy reliance on clean energy, 

South Dakota consistently ranks among the top states in the U.S. for the highest percentage of renewable electricity generation.Would you like to know how South Dakota's energy production compares to neighboring states, or are you looking for details on the major wind and hydro facilities in the region?3 sitesList of power stations in South Dakota - WikipediaArticle. This is a list of electricity-generating power stations in the U.S. state of South Dakota. In 2024, South Dakota had a to...WikipediaRenewable energy in South Dakota - WikipediaArticle. Renewable energy in South Dakota involves production of biofuels and generation of electricity from renewable sources of ...WikipediaShow all    Show more        Web resultsSouth DakotaU.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (.gov)https://www.eia.gov › states › analysisAlmost all of it came from wind and hydroelectric power. However, wind power provided nearly three times more electricity than hydropower in 2024. The state has ...Read morePeople also askWhich state does Canada supply electricity to?Why are people moving out of South Dakota?Which country wastes the most electricity?What US state generates the most electricity?Web resultsRenewable energy in South DakotaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Renewable_energy_in...About 30 percent of South Dakota's electricity generation is from wind. The state was the first to achieve the 20% mark for full year generation.Biofuel productionElectrical power generationHydroelectric powerWind powerMissing: most ‎| Show results with: mostSouth Dakota - IERThe Institute for Energy Researchhttps://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org › states › sout...The majority of electricity produced in South Dakota comes from hydroelectric power on the Missouri RiverSouth Dakota, an unexpected leader in renewable energyEnvironment Americahttps://environmentamerica.org › articles › south-dakot...Jun 2, 2025 — Wind power alone generates more than half of South Dakota's electricity. The state's flat terrain, steady winds and open landscapes make it one ...Read moreList of power stations in South DakotaWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › List_of_power_station...In 2025, the electrical energy generation mix was 57.2% wind, 22% hydroelectric, 9.7% natural gas, 9.1% coal, 2% solar, and 0.1% biomass. Sources of South ...Read moreNuclear power stationsFossil-fuel power stationsRenewable power stationsMissing: most ‎| Show results with: mostSouth Dakota and renewable energyEBSCOhttps://www.ebsco.com › power-and-energy › south-da...Much of South Dakota's electricity is supplied by its hydroelectric and coalpower plants. Some oil and natural gas reserves exist in the western part of the ...Read moreWhere Does Your Energy Come From?NorthWestern Energyhttps://www.northwesternenergy.com › clean-energyMore than a third of our electricity for our South Dakota customers comes from wind resources. Based on MWhs supplied from owned and long-term contracted ...Majority of energy produced in South Dakota comes from ...Center For Rural Affairshttps://www.cfra.org › blog › majority-energy-produced...Dec 9, 2020 — South Dakota is powered by renewables. In 2019, nearly 70 percent of all electricity generated in the state came from renewable sources.Missing: most ‎| Show results with: mostSouth Dakota Electricity Generation Mix 2026Low-Carbon Powerhttps://lowcarbonpower.org › region › South_DakotaSpecifically, more than half of the state's electricity is generated by wind power, with hydropower contributing about a quarter. Fossil fuels like coal and gas ...Read more

--- end quoting a Google search---

AP writes:: Well, I am surprised Wind plays so much, but I was sure that coal from Wyoming is the source of most of South Dakota electricity. I hope I am wrong on that and Renewables are that strong and big.

Having said that, yes, South Dakota should qualify for a few small Data Centers, provided if, coal is ___not the energy source___.

AP writes:: There is one more item of contention, that others bypass and ignore. The item of EM radiation for the "cloud". If you live near a Data Center, with all that radiation present all the time--- are you at risk??? Probably most answers will say it is harmless. I am not so sure. Like living near High Voltage lines.

There is evidence that nitrates in the water used by Data center causes rare cancers.

But I am more concerned about the radiation of Data Centers, like that of living near High Voltage Power lines. In those studies that an uptick in Childhood Leukemia was observed in families living near High Voltage Power lines, and ironically it is the ELF, extremely low frequency of EM fields.

It would be interesting to research people living next to Data Centers whether a spike in Leukemia arises.

AP writes:: Since we do not know enough of health hazards, we should NOT build Data Centers near residential zones.

AP

[Archimedes Plutonium]

It will be miserable, if a data center already built and where the power supply is not steady, and then they truck in diesel to run the generators.

And all that noise.

No, these data centers have to be far enough away from residential.

[Archimedes Plutonium]

The question in South Dakota is not a question of Data center, here or there. No, the priority question in South Dakota is Irrigation Water for every year is more horrid drought than the last.

To use the Missouri River for irrigation water of agriculture is the prime priority.

South Dakota has little electricity for Data Centers.

And what little electricity South Dakota has, should now be earmarked for Irrigation of farmland.

Forget the Data Center, and those go to states like California that has huge Geothermal electric stations.

Focus.... Concentrate..... here in South Dakota on Missouri River Irrigation projects, for as the Sun Gone Red Giant will end up where South Dakota has no farming except cactus farming.

AP