Dakota Rural Action
@dakotarural.bsky.social
We build community power in promoting & protecting natural resources & resilient food & energy systems for future generations in South Dakota. ORGANIZE!
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www.dakotarural.org
Likes & reposts are not endorsements.
www.dakotarural.org
DRA's Rebecca Terk: Why is the Board of Minerals & Environment set against holding its uranium exploration hearing in the affected area rather than hours (and a time zone change) away in Pierre? rapidcitypost.com/opinion-whos... #mining #southdakota #uranium #localcontrol
OPINION: Who’s Afraid of Hot Springs? - The Rapid City Post
Hearing Chair Denies Venue Change Requests from Three Local Governments Last spring’s notice of a proposed uranium exploration project near Craven Canyon,
rapidcitypost.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:49 PM
DRA's Rebecca Terk: Why is the Board of Minerals & Environment set against holding its uranium exploration hearing in the affected area rather than hours (and a time zone change) away in Pierre? rapidcitypost.com/opinion-whos... #mining #southdakota #uranium #localcontrol
This: "So, we’re just saying when it comes to the richest tech companies in the world, we don’t think those people in particular should be given a tax break.” - Speaker Jon Hansen www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #sdleg #datacenter #taxpayers
Senate, House leadership introduces 'Data Center Bill of Rights' bill
Senate and House leadership team up to introduce a new bill they’re calling the “Data Center Bill of Rights.”
www.sdpb.org
January 27, 2026 at 4:57 PM
This: "So, we’re just saying when it comes to the richest tech companies in the world, we don’t think those people in particular should be given a tax break.” - Speaker Jon Hansen www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #sdleg #datacenter #taxpayers
HJR 5001 will allow the South Dakota voters to decide whether to constitutionally protect eminent domain restrictions, was strengthened and clarified through amendments and then passed by the House State Affairs Committee #sdleg #eminentdomain #sdisnotforsale
A committee of state lawmakers advanced legislation asking voters to put restrictions on #EminentDomain in the state constitution, after the measure’s supporters argued South Dakotans need stronger protections than a law banning eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines.
Lawmakers advance resolution asking voters to put eminent domain restrictions in SD constitution • South Dakota Searchlight
A committee of state lawmakers advanced legislation that would ask voters to put restrictions on eminent domain in the state constitution.
buff.ly
January 26, 2026 at 3:09 PM
HJR 5001 will allow the South Dakota voters to decide whether to constitutionally protect eminent domain restrictions, was strengthened and clarified through amendments and then passed by the House State Affairs Committee #sdleg #eminentdomain #sdisnotforsale
The State Board of Minerals & Environment denies 2 counties & 1 city's request for the Craven Canyon proposed #uranium drilling project hearing be held in Hot Springs instead of Pierre. bit.ly/4qYHNTk #localcontrol
January 22, 2026 at 5:52 PM
The State Board of Minerals & Environment denies 2 counties & 1 city's request for the Craven Canyon proposed #uranium drilling project hearing be held in Hot Springs instead of Pierre. bit.ly/4qYHNTk #localcontrol
Who's afraid of Hot Springs? The State of South Dakota, it seems bit.ly/4qYHNTk #uranium #mining #localcontrol
VIEWPOINT | South Dakota decision makers put uranium prospects before Black Hills residents, tribes
Guest column by Rebecca Terk, Dakota Rural Action
bit.ly
January 21, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Who's afraid of Hot Springs? The State of South Dakota, it seems bit.ly/4qYHNTk #uranium #mining #localcontrol
To clarify - if testifying in person, you can still register at the hearing, but it is an electronic registration as opposed to a paper signup sheet.
Anyone planning to testify at a #sdleg committee hearing this session must first register online www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #civicengagement #southdakota
Individuals looking to testify at legislative committees must register online first
Anyone looking to testify before a South Dakota legislative committee this session must now register online before testifying.
www.sdpb.org
January 19, 2026 at 5:24 PM
To clarify - if testifying in person, you can still register at the hearing, but it is an electronic registration as opposed to a paper signup sheet.
There's still a week left to sign up for your free local food listing! The directory really helps to spread the word about your #localfoods products! #sodak
Are you a #localfood producer or business in #SouthDakota? Then you can get a FREE listing in the SD Local Foods Directory! Go to www.dakotarural.org/local-foods-directory → click on “Submit a Listing” Thousands of copies are distributed at farmers markets, stores & event plus always online
January 19, 2026 at 5:23 PM
There's still a week left to sign up for your free local food listing! The directory really helps to spread the word about your #localfoods products! #sodak
The state may be rushing to give #tax incentives to #datacenter companies but local residents in Deuel County are not convinced that industrialization is the right move app.publicnewsservice.org/story/in-sd-...?
In SD, rural identity and data centers collide
South Dakota lawmakers will soon consider a bill which would offer companies tax incentives for data center development. Locally, rural residents worry such projects could drastically change the ident...
app.publicnewsservice.org
January 19, 2026 at 3:46 PM
The state may be rushing to give #tax incentives to #datacenter companies but local residents in Deuel County are not convinced that industrialization is the right move app.publicnewsservice.org/story/in-sd-...?
Are you a #localfood producer or business in #SouthDakota? Then you can get a FREE listing in the SD Local Foods Directory! Go to www.dakotarural.org/local-foods-directory → click on “Submit a Listing” Thousands of copies are distributed at farmers markets, stores & event plus always online
January 14, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Are you a #localfood producer or business in #SouthDakota? Then you can get a FREE listing in the SD Local Foods Directory! Go to www.dakotarural.org/local-foods-directory → click on “Submit a Listing” Thousands of copies are distributed at farmers markets, stores & event plus always online
Anyone planning to testify at a #sdleg committee hearing this session must first register online www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #civicengagement #southdakota
Individuals looking to testify at legislative committees must register online first
Anyone looking to testify before a South Dakota legislative committee this session must now register online before testifying.
www.sdpb.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Anyone planning to testify at a #sdleg committee hearing this session must first register online www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #civicengagement #southdakota
DRA's Liz Tiger on #datacenters: "the people that live there deserve to have a say in it and deserve to be a part of the conversation.” www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #southdakota #localcontol
South Dakota communities taking note of data center craze ahead of session
Two debates in two very different communities were united by a common concern. One took place in the state’s largest city; the other in a small, rural town.The topic intertwining them: data centers.Th...
www.sdpb.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:12 PM
DRA's Liz Tiger on #datacenters: "the people that live there deserve to have a say in it and deserve to be a part of the conversation.” www.sdpb.org/politics/202... #southdakota #localcontol
#CCS isn't working at scale so please stop trying to sell it to #rural America as a revenue-generator or economic development. It's not a #climatesolution & it's a waste of #taxdollars carbonherald.com/chevrons-gor...
Chevron’s Gorgon CCS Project Posts Lowest Carbon Storage Levels On Record
Chevron’s Gorgon carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility in Western Australia recorded its weakest performance to date in 2025.
carbonherald.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:55 PM
#CCS isn't working at scale so please stop trying to sell it to #rural America as a revenue-generator or economic development. It's not a #climatesolution & it's a waste of #taxdollars carbonherald.com/chevrons-gor...
A "makeover" will not assuage #rural communities' concerns over water, power, emergency services, and industrialization when #datacenters come to call.
Oh, come ON. People oppose the expansion of AI data centers because they use enormous amounts of water and cause electric bills to spike. Corporations can't fix that with decor!
Data centers get makeovers to blunt NIMBY criticism
Tech companies are facing backlash over their data centers. Can a facelift help?
www.semafor.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:53 PM
A "makeover" will not assuage #rural communities' concerns over water, power, emergency services, and industrialization when #datacenters come to call.
#Carboncapture not performing well in Australia - the Gorgon project captures a record low of CO2, clocking a less than half the amount it captured in 2019. This #CCS project is a wildly expensive failure.
🚨 Big blow for CCS: Gorgon, the world’s largest #CCS project is having its worst year yet, capturing only 1.33 Mt CO₂, a record low.
reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-large...
Gorgon has not reached its promised 80% capture rate in the last 6 years, with falling performance each year.
reneweconomy.com.au/worlds-large...
Gorgon has not reached its promised 80% capture rate in the last 6 years, with falling performance each year.
reneweconomy.com.au
January 8, 2026 at 5:29 PM
#Carboncapture not performing well in Australia - the Gorgon project captures a record low of CO2, clocking a less than half the amount it captured in 2019. This #CCS project is a wildly expensive failure.
Today in @southdakotasearchlight.com DRA member Brooke Manca urges #transparency around #datacenter developments before they're built. The pros & cons must be weighed seriously with public participation southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/01/06/w...
January 7, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Today in @southdakotasearchlight.com DRA member Brooke Manca urges #transparency around #datacenter developments before they're built. The pros & cons must be weighed seriously with public participation southdakotasearchlight.com/2026/01/06/w...
About 150 folks turned out last night to air concerns & ask questions about the proposed #datacenter near Toronto in Deuel County. Folks worried about a number of long-term effects from industrialization. #sodak #localcontrol #rural
January 7, 2026 at 4:18 PM
About 150 folks turned out last night to air concerns & ask questions about the proposed #datacenter near Toronto in Deuel County. Folks worried about a number of long-term effects from industrialization. #sodak #localcontrol #rural
Since jobs are a big carrot dangled to #rural communities when #datacenters come calling, this is worth reading. Just how many jobs are we talking about?
The AI industry claims that their data centers are creating large numbers of jobs. Our research shows that these claims are false. Read more here, and join us in calling for a halt to new AI data centers:
New Research Debunks Data Center Industry Job Claims
Investment Needed to Create One Data Center Job is 100 Times Greater Than Average
www.foodandwaterwatch.org
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Since jobs are a big carrot dangled to #rural communities when #datacenters come calling, this is worth reading. Just how many jobs are we talking about?
DRA member Brooke Manca encourages communities to ask tough questions around #datacenter developments. Don't settle for vague promises - get hard numbers in order to decide if the project is something your community wants #localcontrol #rural #transparency
"Communities need to have transparency around proposed #DataCenters," writes Brooke Manca, "so they can weigh the economic and environmental impacts in order to protect hardworking South Dakotans and our beautiful lands."
Commentary:
Commentary:
We need transparency about data centers to weigh their economic and environmental impacts • South Dakota Searchlight
Would you be surprised to learn that using ChatGPT, artificial intelligence photo editing, or even asking your Alexa/Siri a question contributes to significant water and electricity consumption?
buff.ly
January 7, 2026 at 3:09 PM
DRA member Brooke Manca encourages communities to ask tough questions around #datacenter developments. Don't settle for vague promises - get hard numbers in order to decide if the project is something your community wants #localcontrol #rural #transparency
Locally produced food contributes to the economies of our rural communities. We would love to see more support for these producers! www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota... #localfood #sodakgrown #eatlocal
Small local farms growing stronger roots in South Dakota
Consumer demand for organic and locally grown foods continues to rise, but running a small farm isn't always an easy task for producers.
www.sdnewswatch.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Locally produced food contributes to the economies of our rural communities. We would love to see more support for these producers! www.sdnewswatch.org/south-dakota... #localfood #sodakgrown #eatlocal
Yes, this: “It’s the secrecy. The secrecy just drives people crazy,” - Jonathan Thornton, neighbor to a proposed #datacenter in MN. Try a little transparency! www.keloland.com/news/nationa...
www.keloland.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Yes, this: “It’s the secrecy. The secrecy just drives people crazy,” - Jonathan Thornton, neighbor to a proposed #datacenter in MN. Try a little transparency! www.keloland.com/news/nationa...
Real-life events like this are why communities need to thoroughly vet proposed #datacenters
By 2028, AI data centers in the U.S. could use up to 720 billion gallons of water annually just to cool their servers 😲 In 2026, we’ll continue the fight to regulate this extractive industry!
'I can't drink the water' - life next to a US data centre
Residents in rural Georgia say the data centre next door has disrupted their water supply.
www.bbc.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Real-life events like this are why communities need to thoroughly vet proposed #datacenters
Reposted by Dakota Rural Action
#Farmers are getting squeezed from every corner with low prices, high inputs & rising #healthinsurance costs, not a good outlook www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
Tariffs, inflation, and other federal policies have battered U.S. farmers' bottom lines. Now many farmers say the expiration of federal health care subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable.
www.npr.org
December 31, 2025 at 7:01 PM
#Farmers are getting squeezed from every corner with low prices, high inputs & rising #healthinsurance costs, not a good outlook www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Reposted by Dakota Rural Action
Southeastern utilities are overbuilding power plants & pipelines in response to projected #datacenter #energy demand. #Ratepayers are subsidizing the cost of electrical infrastructure built to serve data centers & subsidization will worsen if infrastructure is overbuilt ieefa.org/resources/da...
Data centers drive buildout of gas power plants and pipelines in the Southeast
Southeastern utilities and pipeline companies in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are planning a major buildout of natural gas infrastructure over the next 15 years.
ieefa.org
December 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Southeastern utilities are overbuilding power plants & pipelines in response to projected #datacenter #energy demand. #Ratepayers are subsidizing the cost of electrical infrastructure built to serve data centers & subsidization will worsen if infrastructure is overbuilt ieefa.org/resources/da...
Southeastern utilities are overbuilding power plants & pipelines in response to projected #datacenter #energy demand. #Ratepayers are subsidizing the cost of electrical infrastructure built to serve data centers & subsidization will worsen if infrastructure is overbuilt ieefa.org/resources/da...
Data centers drive buildout of gas power plants and pipelines in the Southeast
Southeastern utilities and pipeline companies in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia are planning a major buildout of natural gas infrastructure over the next 15 years.
ieefa.org
December 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Southeastern utilities are overbuilding power plants & pipelines in response to projected #datacenter #energy demand. #Ratepayers are subsidizing the cost of electrical infrastructure built to serve data centers & subsidization will worsen if infrastructure is overbuilt ieefa.org/resources/da...
#Farmers are getting squeezed from every corner with low prices, high inputs & rising #healthinsurance costs, not a good outlook www.npr.org/sections/sho...
Farmers are about to pay a lot more for health insurance
Tariffs, inflation, and other federal policies have battered U.S. farmers' bottom lines. Now many farmers say the expiration of federal health care subsidies will make their coverage unaffordable.
www.npr.org
December 31, 2025 at 7:01 PM
#Farmers are getting squeezed from every corner with low prices, high inputs & rising #healthinsurance costs, not a good outlook www.npr.org/sections/sho...