09-04-2025
Large state tax breaks awarded to 2 projects
This story has been updated with a comment from a spokesperson for Antora.
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — An international cheesemaker and a thermal-battery manufacturer should have the state taxes owed on their new South Dakota projects reduced by millions of dollars, a governor-appointed group has decided.
The South Dakota Economic Development Board on Wednesday approved reinvestment payments for Bel Brands USA, which is expanding its Brookings plant, and Big Stone Energy Storage Project, a subsidiary of Antora Energy.
Bel Brands USA plans to double capacity at the company's Brookings facility, which exclusively produces BabyBels. The company produces at other locations a variety of product lines such as Laughing Cow, Merkts and Kaukauna.
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The state board awarded Bel Brands a reinvestment payment of $2,566,012, but not to exceed 50% of the amount of the actual state sales and use tax paid on eligible project costs up to $196 million.
Big Stone Energy Storage meanwhile was awarded a reinvestment payment of $3,386,040, but not to exceed 50% of the amount of the actual state sale and use tax paid on eligible project costs up to $209.7 million.
Its California-based parent Antora manufactures thermal batteries that can be used to store electricity generated from sources such as wind, solar and natural gas. Northeastern South Dakota, where the project will be located, is a large producer of wind power.
An Antora spokesperson told KELOLAND News, 'Antora is pursuing a proposed energy storage project in South Dakota that presents the opportunity to enhance local economic development and low-cost, local energy use. The company looks forward to sharing more as project plans progress.'
The state board also granted a reinvestment payment to Dakota Line Energy of $250,682 but not to exceed 50% of the amount of the actual state sales and use tax paid on eligible project costs up to $13,400,105.
The sales-tax reductions for the three projects came one day after the state Bureau of Finance and Management reported that most revenues including sales tax were flowing into the state government's general fund at lower amounts than the Legislature's revised estimates for the 2025 fiscal year that ends June 30.
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