South Dakota has had quite a bit of energy development the past decade. But some observers wonder if the pace is too fast, while others say it's not fast enough.

The state now is home to 16 ethanol plants and several large wind farms with more on the way. Also, TransCanada is building one oil pipeline across the state and wants to build another. And the proposed Hyperion project could result in an oil refinery near Elk Point.

Don Carr, spokesman for the Environmental Working Group, says industry wants things to happen fast but that environmental safeguards often are an afterthought.

But Senator John Thune says there's a lot of pent-up opportunity for wind development and that the state could be moving faster.

Paul Blackburn of Plains Justice, a Vermillion-based public interest law center that focuses on environmental issues, says South Dakota's renewable energy advances still lag behind neighboring states.

He says relative to those states, South Dakota's wind development has been slow.

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