US voters in Harwood, North Dakota rejected a ballot measure that opposed Applied Digital's $3B data center, set to open in 2027, bucking a nationwide backlash

Data center construction will proceed near Harwood, North Dakota, as voters rejected opposition.

Voters in Harwood, North Dakota, rejected a ballot measure opposing the construction of a $3 billion, 1.8 million-square-foot data center by Applied Digital. The facility is slated to begin operations in 2027. This decision stands in contrast to a growing trend of public opposition to large-scale data center projects across the United States, fueled by concerns often related to their environmental impact and resource demands. Harwood, with a population of 845, is presented as a unique case where residents voted in favor of such a development, despite broader national sentiment against them.

The outcome in Harwood suggests that targeted community engagement and economic development arguments can potentially overcome widespread public apprehension regarding data centers. While national sentiment leans toward scrutiny of these facilities, this vote indicates a possibility for localized acceptance under specific circumstances. It may encourage developers to focus more on direct community benefits and transparent communication to secure project approvals in other regions facing similar public resistance.

This event highlights a divergence between grassroots opposition and the ongoing demand for AI infrastructure, a demand driven by companies and the federal government. The successful pushback against data centers in many areas, contrasted with the Harwood vote, underscores the localized nature of these conflicts. Future projects may need to navigate a complex landscape of varying community opinions, potentially leading to more tailored development proposals and increased lobbying efforts at the municipal level.