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Inside the AI 'Small City' Data Center Rising From the Plains
Roughly 1,800 workers are finishing two 907,000-square-foot buildings that will support artificial intelligence computing, with 200 to 250 jobs planned.
- Roughly 1,800 workers are finishing two 907,000-square-foot buildings at Applied Digital's Polaris Forge 2 data center in Harwood, North Dakota, with partial operations expected by the end of 2026, said Nick Phillips, executive vice president of public affairs and real estate acquisition for Applied Digital.
- The Harwood City Council approved the $3 billion AI data center on Sept. 10, 2025, allowing Texas-based Applied Digital to build its third project in the state; the structures outmeasure North Dakota's largest building, an Amazon fulfillment center located nearby.
- Eight rooms in each building will hold 12 generators each for redundancy, said Branden Cummins, Applied Digital civil structure architecture superintendent. The facility will employ 200 to 250 people once operational.
- While the Harwood data center receives no tax incentives, Phillips estimates the company will become the state's largest single taxpayer by 2029. The project has faced criticism from residents fearing increased electricity costs.
- Applied Digital continues expanding across the Midwest, including an Ellendale facility nearing completion and a project near Center. The company expects remaining portions of the Harwood site to open in early 2027.
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Perham Focus+17 Reposted by 17 other sources
Inside the AI 'small city' data center rising from the plains
The Harwood, North Dakota, data center is expected to become partially operational near the end of 2026. The Forum was the first media outlet inside the facility.
·Cloquet, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources20
Leaning Left0Leaning Right8Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution53% Center
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
53% Center
C 53%
R 47%
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