An inside look at the Harwood data center as it nears completion
Applied Digital's Polaris Forge 2 data center in Harwood, North Dakota, is nearing completion, with partial operations expected by late 2026. The $3 billion AI data center, approved by the Harwood City Council in 2025, has faced local opposition due to concerns over electricity usage. Applied Digital is investing in infrastructure upgrades and states the facility will use a closed-loop cooling system to minimize water consumption.
Applied Digital's Polaris Forge 2 data center in Harwood, North Dakota, is nearing completion, with two 907,000-square-foot buildings set to house AI infrastructure. This $3 billion project, approved by the Harwood City Council on September 10, 2025, represents the Texas-based company's third venture in the state. Dave Nehring, director of local and regional affairs for Applied Digital in the Midwest, provided Forum journalists with a tour of the facility, which is expected to become partially operational by late 2026 and fully operational in early 2027.
The Harwood data center has faced some controversy and criticism from residents concerned about its substantial electricity consumption and potential impact on local utility costs. Polaris Forge 2 is a 280-megawatt facility that will draw electricity from Cass County Electric. Applied Digital's executive vice president of public affairs, Nick Phillips, stated that the company is investing $112 million in substation and transmission upgrades and maintains that its operations will not raise electricity bills for customers.
Applied Digital emphasized its environmental considerations, noting the facility's closed-loop cooling system is designed to use minimal water, comparable to a household. The company is also installing silencing equipment and sound barriers to mitigate noise pollution, with the closest home over half a mile away. Officials project that Applied Digital will become North Dakota's largest single taxpayer by 2029, with the Harwood data center not receiving any tax incentives or abatements. The facility is expected to employ 200 to 250 people upon opening.