Interview with the Chief Executive Officer of the firm responsible for the Harwood AI data center, discussing frequently posed queries
A Texas-based company, Applied Digital, is set to commence construction on a massive artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Harwood, North Dakota, this month. The project, known as Polaris Forge 2, is expected to be partially operational by the end of 2026, with full operation scheduled for early 2027.
The data center, spanning over 160 acres, will be located east of Interstate 29 between Harwood and Fargo. It will sit on 925 acres near the Fargo Park District's North Softball Complex. Despite its immense size, the facility is expected to use the same amount of water as a single household.
The news of the data center has received overwhelming support from people in Harwood. However, most of the criticism has come from other cities. The Harwood City Council voted unanimously to rezone the land for the center from agricultural to light industrial, paving the way for the building permit approval.
Applied Digital claims that the facility will not create emissions or other hazards that require an environmental impact study. This rapid approval was due to the industry's fast-moving nature and the need to finish foundation and grading work before winter sets in.
The facility is expected to have a significant economic benefit for the community, county, and state, with minimal negative impact. Applied Digital estimates that electricity rates will not increase for local residents due to the data center. However, the specific estimates of the tax revenue and economic growth the facility is expected to generate have not been disclosed.
The data center is also expected to create jobs. More than 200 full-time employees will be needed to operate the facility, and the project is expected to create 700 construction jobs. The loudest noise will be during the construction of the facility, but once operational, the facility will create minimal noise, similar to a heat pump outside a house.
Applied Digital is in advanced negotiations with a U.S.-based investment-grade hyperscaler that has shown interest in leasing space at the Polaris Forge 2 AI data center. Specific company names have not been disclosed.
Despite the proximity of the data center to residential areas, people who live half a mile or more from the facility are unlikely to hear any noise. The project is a significant step forward in North Dakota's technological advancement and economic growth.
