Yankton County commissioners approve 6-month data center moratorium to study environmental and grid impacts.

Yankton County, South Dakota commissioners have approved a six-month moratorium on data center development in the county. The original proposal sought a full-year moratorium, though the commissioners ultimately settled on the shorter timeframe.

The moratorium will give the county's Planning and Zoning Board time to develop an ordinance designed to prevent large-scale data centers from entering the county. If necessary, the moratorium can be extended beyond the initial six-month period.

The commissioners' decision followed a well-attended public meeting in which ten Yankton County residents spoke in favor of the moratorium. No residents spoke against it. The move reflects a growing trend across Siouxland, as multiple counties in the region reassess their policies toward data center development.