South Dakota utility regulator candidates clash over AI data center pause

By: Joshua Haiar

Outlets: South Dakota Searchlight

Published: September 1, 2026

Words: 646

Last Updated: 6 hours, 58 minutes ago

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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 require large investments in electrical infrastructure — from …

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