Harwood, ND voters reject data center restrictions, support Applied Digital project

In a surprising deviation from national trends, voters in Harwood, North Dakota, have overwhelmingly rejected a measure to limit large industrial projects, including data centers. About 75% of Harwood’s electorate voted against the proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter, which would have mandated additional reviews and public hearings for such projects. This decision supports the ongoing development of an Applied Digital data center on a 160-acre site, with Oracle as the planned end user. Harwood stands out as the only community among over 40 ballot measures nationwide to oppose restrictions on data centers, indicating a prioritization of local economic and tax benefits over regulatory oversight. Key Takeaways Harwood’s decision appears to indicate a local preference for economic benefits from data centers over additional oversight. The result is consistent with reduced support for data center moratoriums, contrasting with trends in other U.S. locations. Market pricing suggests this outcome could decrease the perceived likelihood of a statewide data center moratorium in Oklahoma. What to Watch Market participants will be monitoring whether Harwood’s decision influences broader...