1 data center project in Sioux Falls City
Who decides here: the City Council of Sioux Falls City votes on zoning. The Minnehaha County may review big projects too.
In Sioux Falls City
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.
📜 Data center rules · Minnehaha County
County staff showed a first draft of data center rules to the Planning Commission. Next, the county will rewrite the draft and hold a formal hearing. The draft's details were not reported.
🗳️ 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.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Sioux Falls City. - Go to council meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Sioux Falls City: Wapa-- Western Area Power Administration (public) or Sioux Valley Sw Electric Co-op (co-op (owned by its members)) or Northern States Power Co. - Minnesota (company) or City of Sioux Falls (not available).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in South Dakota.
🙋 Open tasks here
- Who will build and run the data center (the tenant)?
- Has Gemini signed a power contract with Xcel Energy, and when will the PUC review it?
- When will a site plan or building permit be filed?
- How much water will it use per day?