North Dakota Town Bucks Trend by Voting in Favor of Data Centers

Harwood, a North Dakota town, defied national trends by voting against stricter rules for large projects, including data centers. On November 3, voters rejected plans to introduce additional review measures for qualifying projects. The measure would have required independent technical reviews, greater public transparency, public hearings, and substantial evidence before city approval.

Of the 430 votes cast, 325 opposed the amendment and 105 supported it, making up roughly 76 percent against the proposal. This marked Harwood as an outlier during an election where most voters backed measures to restrict, scrutinize, or oppose data center developments. Despite the rejection, Harwood approved rezoning 320 acres for light industrial use, allowing Texas-based Applied Digital to build a large facility.

The community had expressed concerns about noise, water use, air quality, electricity bills, traffic, and the impact on the town's character. Harwood Mayor Blake Hankey opposed the amendment, arguing it could have financially burdened the city and wasn't limited to data centers. Opponents felt residents hadn't had enough influence over decisions affecting their community.

The November election saw data center-related measures in 10 states, with voters generally supporting restrictions in 40 out of 41 contests. Harwood's decision contrasted sharply with the broader trend, showing a different approach to the rapid expansion of infrastructure supporting AI and cloud computing.