Lawmakers argue about legislative data center memo that one calls ‘a very opinionated piece’

A South Dakota state senator employed by a utility company criticized a legislative staff report on large data centers as “very opinionated,” drawing pushback from some fellow lawmakers who said the report fulfilled its purpose. Sen. Steve Kolbeck, R-Brandon, is an executive for Xcel Energy, a multi-state provider of electricity and natural gas. He is also a former member of the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities. During a Tuesday meeting in Pierre of the Legislature’s Executive Board, Kolbeck criticized Legislative Research Council staff attorney Rachel Hale’s 17-page “Hyperscale Data Centers” issue memorandum. Kolbeck went on to cast the lone no vote against accepting the memorandum.

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