Gemini data center site in northeast Sioux Falls
Also called: Sioux Falls Technology Park, Gemini Data Center SD
A California-linked developer wants to sell or lease a 164-acre site in northeast Sioux Falls for a very large data center, up to 500 MW. The city rezoned the land, and a petition to force a vote failed. There is no tenant or building plan yet.
Where things stand: City council rezoned the land in Jan. 2026. No tenant, site plan or building permit yet.
🕒 Latest update (April 2, 2026): Developer said the project is 'not on hold' but depends on finding a tenant, after state lawmakers rejected tax breaks.
What we know
- 📍 Where164 acres along East Rice Street between Six Mile Road and Veterans Parkway, just south of Xcel Energy's Split Rock substation, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County
- 🏢 CompanyGemini Data Center SD LLC
- 🌳 Size164 acres
- ⚡ Power it needs500 megawatts (about as much as 400,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromXcel Energy, from the Split Rock substation next door. The developer would build its own substation and pay for Xcel upgrades.
- 💧 WaterCity of Sioux Falls (council limited water to everyday use by workers)
- ❄️ CoolingDeveloper says it will not use large-scale water cooling; no design yet
- 💸 Tax breaksCouncil members said there are no special city tax breaks. A state sales tax break the developer wanted failed in the 2026 Legislature.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Who will build and run the data center (the tenant)? 🙋 I'll find out
- Has Gemini signed a power contract with Xcel Energy, and when will the PUC review it? 🙋 I'll find out
- When will a site plan or building permit be filed? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water will it use per day? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- 2023Gemini bought 164 acres from Xcel Energy.
- Jan 6, 2026Sioux Falls City Council voted unanimously to rezone the land from farm use to light industrial and approved a preliminary plat.
- Jan 30, 2026A petition to force a public vote on the rezoning fell short: 5,012 signatures, 6,704 needed. The rezoning stays in effect.
- April 2, 2026Developer said the project is 'not on hold' but depends on finding a tenant, after state lawmakers rejected tax breaks.
Local votes and rules
📌 Other
Local groups (South Dakota for Data Center Transparency, Let Sioux Falls Vote, Dakota Rural Action) asked the city to pause data center building permits until it writes data center rules. They want new rules to cover the Gemini project too. The groups say council members do not think a pause is needed. The mayor has said she prefers rules over a pause.
🗳️ Public vote
Residents gathered signatures to force a public vote on the Gemini rezoning. They turned in 5,012 signatures, but 6,704 were needed. The city clerk rejected the petition, so the rezoning stays in effect.
🗺️ Zoning change
After hours of public comment, the City Council voted 7-0 to rezone about 164 acres south of East Rice Street and east of Veterans Parkway from farm land to light industrial for the Gemini data center. The project still needs city reviews, plans and a building permit.
✅ Approved
The city brought the 164-acre Gemini data center site into the city limits. Earlier, in August 2025, the council changed the city's long-range plan so the land could be zoned for industry. Gemini will pay to extend water and sewer.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- SF City Council approves measure to develop data center · Dakota News Now · Jan 7, 2026
- Sioux Falls data center developers detail next steps · SiouxFalls.Business · Jan 19, 2026
- Petition drive to force election of data center zoning fails · Sioux Falls Live · Jan 30, 2026
- One data center project 'unchanged' while another 'doesn't make sense' after rejected incentives · South Dakota Searchlight · April 2, 2026
- Deuel County no-go (republishes the South Dakota Searchlight article) · Bluestem Prairie · April 2, 2026
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