Applied Digital addresses community questions on roads, water for Ellendale AI data center
Applied Digital is responding to local concerns about its Ellendale AI data center campus regarding water usage and road infrastructure. The company detailed its closed-loop cooling system and stormwater management, alongside a commitment to fund $6 million in road paving, including work on Highway 11.
Applied Digital is actively addressing community concerns regarding its expanding artificial intelligence data center campus near Ellendale, North Dakota. The company's executive, Nick Phillips, recently responded to questions from The Dickey County Leader, clarifying the facility's operational shift from blockchain infrastructure to an AI campus driven by increased demand for high-powered computing.
Phillips elaborated on the data center's environmental and infrastructure impacts. He assured that the facility employs a closed-loop cooling system for water recirculation, minimizing evaporation, and manages stormwater runoff via retention ponds and drainage. Furthermore, Applied Digital is committed to funding approximately $6 million in local road improvements, including paving work and upgrades to Highway 11 west of Ellendale, anticipated to commence this summer.