U.S. data center boom comes to ND

Nick Phillips, Executive Vice President of External Affairs with Applied Digital, spoke in Minot about the expansion of data centers in North Dakota, highlighting the state's advantages for the industry. Applied Digital, which operates blockchain and data centers in Ellendale and Jamestown, and is building a facility in Harwood, proposes a new 430-megawatt data center in Oliver County. This proposed site faces significant community opposition, which Phillips attributes partly to disinformation campaigns and a lack of understanding about data centers. Phillips addressed common concerns, stating that Applied Digital supports appropriate zoning for these industrial uses to ensure proper siting. He also acknowledged a lawsuit filed by residents against a Williston facility over noise, explaining measures like sound-dampening walls used at their Ellendale site to mitigate such issues. Regarding electricity consumption, Phillips argued that Applied Digital's large facilities, like the Ellendale site which uses power equivalent to Sioux Falls, actually benefit existing customers by absorbing fixed grid costs and have saved MDU ratepayers $38 million to date. Applied Digital is making substantial investments, with its Ellendale complex representing a $5 billion total investment excluding customer equipment, and a 280-megawatt facility in Harwood costing $3 billion. The company has also opted against property tax breaks to ensure funding for local infrastructure like roads, police, and schools, and participates in housing initiatives and community grant programs. Other companies, Critical Data House and NextEra, are also exploring data center projects in Williston and Mercer County, respectively, reinforcing the state's growing appeal due to abundant energy and favorable climate for cooling.