Historic dichotomy underlies data center debate
The article examines North Dakota’s debate over data centers, including Applied Digital’s construction project in Harwood, and compares it with earlier conflicts over coal mining, power generation and oil development. It highlights the tension between economic growth and job creation on one side and environmental protection and preservation of local communities on the other.
Applied Digital is building a data center in Harwood, North Dakota, as the state debates the broader consequences of expanding data center development. The article argues that the conflict mirrors earlier disputes over lignite mining, coal-fired power plants and oil development, which pitted economic interests against environmental and quality-of-life concerns.
Drawing on the state’s history, the article cites former Gov. Arthur Link’s reclamation requirements for coal mines and former Gov. Ed Schafer’s unsuccessful conservation plan for the Badlands as examples of attempts to balance development with preservation. It concludes that North Dakota has yet to produce a credible assessment of data centers’ long-term effects, even as projects continue to emerge across the state.