Robert Mayo: AI data centers: What North Dakota needs to know
Artificial intelligence is driving a significant increase in data center construction, and North Dakota is actively engaged in discussions about its role. The state's Legislature is holding hearings to establish regulations, drawing lessons from New York, which previously enacted a year-long pause on new large data center construction.
Robert L. Mayo, a research specialist at the Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth at North Dakota State University, highlights the current surge in data center construction fueled by artificial intelligence. Mayo notes that North Dakota is at the center of this trend, with its Legislature actively holding hearings to consider appropriate regulations as developers express interest in the state. He references New York as a precedent, noting that it became the first state to implement a one-year moratorium on large data center construction in July 2026, aiming to establish clear rules for development.