Complaint filed with Attorney General against Harmony Township over data center
An attorney has filed a complaint with the North Dakota Attorney General's Office alleging Harmony Township violated open-meetings and notice requirements before a vote on a proposed data center moratorium. Geronimo Power has applied to build a 540-acre data center near Mapleton and offered to pause its application for six months while officials consider the project and proposed energy restrictions.
A complaint filed with the North Dakota Attorney General's Office alleges Harmony Township failed to comply with open-meetings law and the state's 15-day notice requirement before a scheduled vote on a data center moratorium. Attorney Joel Fremstad said the public-hearing notice was published two days short of the required period.
Geronimo Power has proposed a 540-acre data center near Mapleton and plans to combine the project with its rural energy, solar and battery-storage operations. Company executives say the development could generate more than $100 million and provide annual payments totaling $20 million to nearby property owners. CEO Blake Nixon offered to pause the application for six months as township officials evaluate it, while the township board planned to consider six proposed energy bans and a possible two-year moratorium.