Harmony Township Board to consider 2-year data center moratorium
Harmony Township, North Dakota, is considering a two-year moratorium on industrial-scale developments, including a proposed data center by Geronimo Power. Residents have expressed concerns about noise, property values, and water usage, and a public hearing on the moratorium has been approved. The board also requested a legal review into past zoning changes made while a former board chair had an undisclosed purchase agreement with Geronimo Power.
The Harmony Township Board in North Dakota is deliberating a two-year moratorium on industrial-scale developments, a measure that would temporarily halt Geronimo Power's plans to build a data center in the area. Approximately 50 residents gathered at a recent meeting, voicing concerns about the rapid pace of development, potential impacts on property values, noise, water usage, road traffic, and the ability to farm organically.
Dustin Burchill, the Harmony Township board chairman, acknowledged a petition from residents requesting a moratorium and made a motion for a public hearing to formally address these concerns. The proposed moratorium would cover various industrial developments, including data centers, and aims to allow the township time to update its zoning ordinances to better protect residents.
Additionally, Burchill initiated a formal legal review by the township attorney into past ordinance changes made in 2025 and 2026. These changes, which facilitated wind, solar, and data center developments, are under scrutiny because former Board Chair Tom Roden reportedly did not recuse himself from votes, despite entering into a purchase agreement with a Geronimo Power LLC for 970.2 acres of land in May of this year. The board unanimously approved the legal review to ensure compliance with North Dakota Century Code and uphold the integrity of township governance.