South Dakota

Climatetech finance

Antora snags $550M for heat batteries to run data centers and factories

As the California firm boots up a giant thermal battery system in South Dakota, fresh funds will help it build a second U.S. factory and more large-scale projects.

By Maria Gallucci .

30 July 2026

Rows of white batteries in front of a factory, with a beige building between with an Antora sign — Antora Energy’s thermal batteries at the Poet bioprocessing facility in Big Stone City, South Dakota (Antora Energy)

Energy storage

The hidden innovation behind Antora’s massive new heat battery

The startup is turning on a 200-battery project in South Dakota — and pioneering an electric utility rate that could help boost thermal energy storage more widely.

By Maria Gallucci . 27 May 2026
Clean energy jobs

South Dakota students tap into growing wind-energy job market

Technical colleges are creating direct pipelines into the industry — and the number of available jobs is “crazy,” said one student who is about to graduate.

By Bart Pfankuch . 20 May 2025
ENN

Massive data centers consuming large amounts of energy have eyes on South Dakota

The state's cold climate, which can cut down on cooling costs, and abundant wind power make it an attractive location, a developer says.

By Joshua Haiar . 10 December 2024
Air travel

DOE makes $3B commitment to two sustainable aviation fuel projects

Alternative jet fuels are seen as key to curbing emissions from today’s airplanes. The Loan Programs Office is backing SAF plants to boost U.S. supplies.

By Maria Gallucci . 16 October 2024
ENN

Wind is now South Dakota’s No. 1 producer of electricity, but not every day

More than half of South Dakota's electricity came from wind last year, but it doesn't produce the majority of power every day, making storage necessary to keep the lights on.

By Joshua Haiar . 3 November 2022
ENN

After pipeline fights, tribes get chance to tell different story with electric vehicles

The U.S. Department of Energy this month awarded groups on the Standing Rock and Red Lake Indian reservations money for an inter-tribal electric vehicle charging network connecting communities in the Upper Midwest.

By Frank Jossi . 15 November 2021
ENN

The Midwest lost clean energy jobs in 2020, but there were signs of hope, new report says

Clean energy jobs in the region declined by about 9% last year amid pandemic-driven economic turbulence, but electric vehicles were a bright spot, adding jobs in states including Minnesota and Michigan.

By Kari Lydersen . 11 August 2021
ENN

Would Upper Midwest carbon capture pipelines offer a lifeline to coal plants?

The Sierra Club is warning that proposed carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska and the Dakotas may help extend the life of fossil fuel power plants.

By Karen Uhlenhuth . 21 July 2021
ENN

As bottleneck stymies projects, Midwest groups call for transmission reforms

Clean energy advocates say the Midwest needs to change how it plans — and pays for — transmission projects.

By David Thill . 10 January 2020
ENN

$3.3 billion wind investment will add 2,500 MW of clean energy in South Dakota

The approved and docketed projects would raise the total number of wind farms to 25 and nearly triple the number of wind towers in the state.

By South Dakota News Watch . 5 September 2019