Basin Electric, NextEra Energy hold open house to discuss data center

Basin Electric and NextEra Energy co-hosted an open house in Mercer County, North Dakota, to address community concerns regarding a proposed hyperscale data center and gas power plant. The event aimed to provide details on the project, which has been a point of contention in the county for several weeks. The proposed plan includes a gas power plant spanning 50-75 acres and a data center requiring 1000-2000 acres, with the power plant expected to come online around 2030-2031 and the data center opportunity beginning in 2027. Officials estimated 250-500 permanent jobs for the data center and 30-35 for the gas plant. However, many community members expressed dissatisfaction with the open house, citing difficulties in getting questions answered due to noise and crowded conditions, and a general lack of thoroughness in the responses. Residents, including one individual who stated they "haven't really been able to get a lot of questions answered" and felt it was an "evening designed to obfuscate," highlighted frustration with the process and a lack of transparency. Lawmakers and community members emphasized the need for continued discussions and greater clarity on the project's details, particularly regarding its size and land acquisition. They urged residents to stay informed and engaged, stressing that the project would affect everyone in the community. The debate over the data center and power plant is expected to continue as the project progresses.