Data centers in North Dakota

"I just want to make sure that North Dakota still keeps its pristine environments that we have, so that our children and our grandchildren can grow up and be farmers. I just want to make sure that we have in place language that people understand that we are protecting and are going to do this for our land."

"I find it ironic when we get asked about being open and transparent, and then the people that are entrusted to ensure openness and transparency want to shut down a process before it even starts"

"Sending a message like no development of anything ... for 24 months says 'this community is closed for business.' And I just don't believe that represents this community"

Pederson said the current regulatory framework for commercial data centers resembles 'the Wild West' with out of state tech corporations negotiating individual non disclosure agreements with single townships or counties.

Pederson cited a crypto mining facility built in Williston where added infrastructure demands led to higher monthly utility bills for local ratepayers.

Democratic candidate Trygve Hammer said there needs to be more caution around establishing data centers and that Congress must have a role in regulating them

Independent Helene Neville said there is no remediation plan for data centers and that people do not know what the centers are doing, storing and the outcome of them

Independent Charles Tuttle said people should be concerned about the longevity of data centers and that there is too much secrecy around them, even on the local level

Vern Thompson, Democrat, is running for North Dakota agriculture commissioner in part to oversee data center oversight and natural gas pipeline

Doug Goehring called the data center discussions political grandstanding

Vern Thompson has led a series of meetings on data centers, with attendees concerned about health effects, using up prime farmland and the state being overwhelmed by demand for electricity and water

Susan Beehler, organizer, said the group is concerned about a hyper scale data center planned near Mandan Middle School and Mandan High School

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Rep. Julie Fedorchak promoted the bill at press conference in Fargo on September 22, 2026.

Chairman Nathan Boehm said ordinance will need tweaks in the future and there is need for more discussion on general tonal noise policy

Roger Gazur argues data centers are necessary for streaming movies, email, social media, credit card processing, cell phone calls, and web searches

Commissioner Andy Zachmeier said the ordinance has been negotiated well and lacks industry input in the process

Commissioner Paul Tokach requested change to reclamation bond requirements

Fargo Democratic Senator Tim Mathern proposed a NDA transparency bill that failed to gain support during Senate floor debate.

Data center construction is underway in Ellendale and Harwood with rapid planning for at least two more massive installations.

Vern Thompson, agriculture commissioner candidate, hosted data center forum at Central Cass High School on September 15, 2026

Vern Thompson stated data centers being built on land that would have otherwise been used for agricultural purposes

Grand Forks County has begun discussing potential ordinances or policies to address how future data centers should be approached and regulated.

Civic West hosting Fire Hall Chat on September 17 at 7 p.m. to discuss data center benefits and drawbacks with residents and Applied Digital representative

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Applied Digital held a town hall meeting on its Harwood data center in August 2025 after construction plans were finished

Applied Digital is projected to be the largest property taxpayer in North Dakota by 2028 or 2029, at more than $25 million a year

Vern Thompson, Democratic NPL candidate for North Dakota agriculture commissioner, criticized use of non disclosure agreements by public officials in data center developer negotiations

Vern Thompson to host Data Center Forum on September 15 2026 in Mapleton North Dakota

Ellendale Mayor predicted population growth of 400 to 600 people over the next five years

The forum addresses public concerns regarding surge of data center developments across North Dakota state

Ellendale Mayor Don Flaherty predicted the Applied Digital data center will bring 300 to 350 full time employees to the small town

Vern Thompson spoke for 6 minutes 46 seconds during public comment period at North Dakota data center hearing

Applied Digital spokesman Nick Phillips spoke for 5 minutes 12 seconds during public comment period at North Dakota data center hearing

Ellendale's taxable value at the end of 2025 was $3.5 million, expected to grow more than tenfold

Public service commission chair said agency could develop a decommissioning program for data centers modeled on coal mine reclamation and wind farm rules

Senator Tim Mathern co authored the bill to outlaw non disclosure agreements between public officials and data center developers

NDAs are not enforceable under current statute according to Senator Braunberger

Senator Tim Mathern sponsored the bill to ban NDAs for data centers

Governor Kelly Armstrong stated that no elected official in North Dakota can bypass open records laws by signing a non disclosure agreement

Tim Mathern, D Fargo, sponsored the nondisclosure agreement bill.

Rep. Todd Porter argued state's existing transparency laws are sufficient

Sen. Tim Mathern, D Fargo, introduced Senate Bill 2406 and proposed amendments including one to eliminate state sales tax exemption for data center developers and another to exempt public entities that are energy providers

Applied Digital used nondisclosure agreements in North Dakota for about six weeks during project viability determination before permitting and lifting the NDA

Rep. Austin Foss supported the bill because it includes possibility permit could be revoked for NDA violations

Rep. Jonathan Warrey brought amendment and voted for rejecting the bill

Gov. Kelly Armstrong, R, testified against Senate Bill 2406 but favored an amendment clarifying the law would not prohibit nondisclosure agreements to maintain confidentiality of information already considered confidential or exempt under state law

Democratic NPL Legislative Leadership stated Republican lawmakers blocked bills for a pause on new data center development

Nick Phillips, executive vice president of external affairs for Applied Digital, testified company used NDAs for Harwood project in compliance with state laws

It was less than three months when the public became aware of the project in Oliver County to when construction began

The Executive Director for the North Dakota Association of Counties spoke about the role local governments play in deciding where, how and under what conditions data centers can be built

The majority of North Dakotans support a temporary pause on new hyperscale data center permits

Vern Thompson hosted a data center town hall in Harwood

Vern Thompson, Democratic candidate for North Dakota Ag Commissioner, hosted community forum on hyperscale AI data centers

Representative Julie Fedorchak supports the federal Ratepayer Protection Act, which ensures data center facilities pay their fair share for energy

Fedorchak said data center permitting and building decisions should be made locally, not from Washington or Bismarck

Fedorchak said data center companies must be completely transparent with local leaders about their impact on noise, roads and energy before any deals are made

Vern Thompson, Agriculture Commissioner candidate, declared data centers North Dakota's number one problem

Thompson proposed one year moratorium on data centers to allow ordinances to be developed

Former North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott discussed North Dakota's emerging role in artificial intelligence and data center development.

Dem NPL State Senator Tim Mathern of Fargo will introduce a data center bill during next month's special session

Gov. Kelly Armstrong said he will evaluate a data center bill that restricts governments from entering into nondisclosure agreements with developers