North Dakota urged to hold special legislative session on data center regulation
Local North Dakota governments are implementing moratoriums and blocking AI data center construction due to concerns about water usage and inadequate state infrastructure. The author advocates for Governor Armstrong to call a special legislative session to establish statewide regulations and guardrails before the next regular session in 2027.
Carter Hass of Valley City, N.D., has called for North Dakota Governor Armstrong to convene a special legislative session to address the rapid expansion of AI data centers across the state. In an opinion piece published by InForum, Hass highlighted concerns that current state regulations and infrastructure are insufficient to support these facilities, particularly regarding their substantial water consumption.
Hass noted that local governments, such as Barnes County which enacted a six-month moratorium on May 19, are already taking steps to block data center construction within their communities. He emphasized that these localized efforts can only go so far and that comprehensive, statewide standards and guardrails are urgently needed.
The author pointed out that AI data centers can consume millions of gallons of water daily, posing a significant risk to local aquifers relied upon by farmers for crops and livestock. He argued that waiting until the next regular legislative session in January 2027 would be too late given AI's rapid growth and the complexity of drafting appropriate legislation within the typical session's time constraints. A special session, without time limits and focused solely on this issue, would allow for more thorough policymaking to protect rural communities.