Harwood, North Dakota, Voters Reject Measure to Slow Applied Digital Data Center Project
Voters in Harwood, North Dakota, overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that would have slowed development of an Applied Digital data center campus. Supporters cited substantial property-tax revenue and potential utility savings, while the broader report describes growing voter resistance to data center projects nationwide.
The report examines increasing political and voter opposition to data center construction following the midterm elections. Madison Alworth highlights Harwood, North Dakota, as an exception: residents rejected a measure intended to slow development of an Applied Digital data center project. Harwood City Councilman Chris Higgins said residents studied the proposal and concluded that the project’s economic benefits outweighed concerns, including the impact on a community of fewer than 1,000 people.
Supporters point to property-tax revenue that could be roughly five times the town’s typical annual collections. Applied Digital’s CEO also said the company has helped reduce electricity costs for ratepayers and uses limited water, while acknowledging increased construction traffic. The report says OpenAI is responding to opposition elsewhere by promoting the term “compute campuses” and pledging to fund energy and infrastructure, use closed-loop water systems and create local jobs.