Applied Digital submits rezoning application for data center in Oliver County

Applied Digital has advanced its plans for a new data center, dubbed an "AI Factory," by submitting a rezoning application to Oliver County, North Dakota. The proposed facility would be located near Center and is expected to create approximately 200 full-time jobs and 1,000 temporary construction jobs. This move comes shortly after the Oliver County Commission voted to repeal a 180-day moratorium on data center development, which had been approved the month prior. Despite the lifting of the moratorium, citizens have actively voiced their concerns about data centers at public meetings, indicating ongoing community opposition. Applied Digital has engaged with the community by holding a town hall and offering tours of its existing campuses in Ellendale and Harwood. The company aims to break ground on the Oliver County project this summer, with completion anticipated within 18-24 months. The county commission has yet to vote on the submitted zoning request.