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Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026

Could a data center use the equivalent of 50,000 homes of power?

Michael Klinski, South Dakota News Watch
yes

A data center that is inching closer to becoming a reality in northeastern Sioux Falls could use 50,000 homes’ worth of power a year at its planned peak.

The Sioux Falls City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to rezone the land for the Gemini Data Center. The City Council heard objections from dozens of residents who are worried about environmental impacts of the facility.

Data centers have used significant amounts of power in other states. In 2023, 26% of the electricity supply of Virginia was used by data centers. For North Dakota, it was 15%.

The hyperscale data center would be constructed on 160 acres previously owned by Xcel Energy – with a nearby substation. For comparison, the entire Empire Mall complex in Sioux Falls, from 41st Street to 49th Street and between Interstate 29 and Louise Avenue, is about 150 acres.

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