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Last Update: 09/22/2026 at 11:34 PM EST
North Dakota’s Data Center Transparency Test
Coverage from KELOLAND, NDSU News, and others
North Dakota is reassessing how data centers are proposed, approved, and connected to local infrastructure as communities respond to rapid project growth.
Lawmakers and counties are weighing disclosure requirements, public notification, moratoria, siting standards, and rules to ensure developers cover grid upgrades, while residents raise concerns about electricity bills, noise, water use, and limited information about projects. The debate could shape whether the state’s development incentives remain compatible with local oversight and utility capacity.
Looking Back
101 Day Timeline
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History
09/09/2026
The disclosure debate moved from a pending proposal to a concrete legislative rejection: lawmakers voted down a government NDA ban, while leaving broader transparency rules open for future review. The story also clarifies that existing cost-causation rules already assign dedicated grid infrastructure costs to large-load customers.
09/02/2026
The story now includes a concrete measure of project-related utility spending and more explicit state-level involvement, particularly the governor’s support for reviewing developer confidentiality agreements.
All Articles24 articles
Important
South Dakota lawmakers and local governments adopted and considered data-center rules in 2026 to manage electricity demand, water use, cooling, zoning and community impacts statewide.
8/28/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Applied Digital’s Ellendale, North Dakota project is cited alongside Williston to show how community outreach and power planning affect data-center disputes.
7/20/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Morton County planners recommended revised data center zoning rules in North Dakota on Wednesday as statewide tracked capacity reached 3,927 megawatts across 26 facilities.
8/27/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
A North Dakota coalition developed a model ordinance for data center siting after months of study, emphasizing electricity, water, environmental, and safety evaluations.
6/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
North Dakota cities and counties, with TechND and data-center industry input, developed a model ordinance in response to community concerns about data-center power, water, and environmental impacts.
6/19/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
North Dakota lawmakers will consider Senate Bill 2406 in a special session to restrict public-agency NDAs affecting data center permits and zoning decisions statewide.
9/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Interesting
North Dakota residents and local officials are contesting confidential data-center development, including the Harwood facility near Fargo, over public disclosure and community impacts.
7/29/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
A North Dakota legislative committee met in Bismarck on data centers and artificial intelligence, hearing residents request stronger zoning input and moratorium options amid electricity demand concerns.
7/15/2026 • Community & Local Opposition • General
Frank Kloucek proposed a one-year moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centers in South Dakota during the current Public Utilities Commission campaign, while Don Haggar defended case-by-case regulation under newly enacted state laws.
9/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Morton County, North Dakota, sought public input in Mandan during a Planning and Zoning meeting on revised data-center zoning standards after a September 2024 moratorium.
7/23/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Robert Mayo published a North Dakota State University guide on data center development as North Dakota evaluates projects near Fargo, Bismarck, Mandan, Williston, and Ellendale.
8/11/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Montana-Dakota Utilities filings show Applied Digital will pay nearly $32 million for Ellendale transmission infrastructure from 2023 through 2026 as North Dakota lawmakers review data-center rules.
7/28/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
In Bismarck, North Dakota lawmakers and Tony Clark discussed 2030 electricity-use projections for AI data centers and concerns about grid capacity and cost allocation.
7/15/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Sagebrush Infrastructure Partners secured one-year land purchase options in Mandan as Mandan’s planning process advances a draft data center zoning ordinance with setbacks and noise-study requirements.
7/23/2026 • Infrastructure & Site Development • General
North Dakota senators rejected Senate Bill 2406 during a special session in North Dakota, declining to ban nondisclosure agreements between government entities and data center developers.
9/3/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
North Dakota lawmakers heard residents and industry representatives debate data center permitting and transparency during a special-session meeting in North Dakota, while legislators prepared to consider temporary nondisclosure agreement restrictions.
9/1/2026 • Permitting & Regulation • General
Warrey will lead a North Dakota interim committee studying data centers, water and electricity impacts, and AI regulation ahead of the January 2027 session.
6/26/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Jordan Lamb, CEO of Oahe Electric Cooperative, argues South Dakota should enable data-center growth by aligning permitting and grid upgrades to planned load growth.
6/19/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Barnes County commissioners in North Dakota imposed a six-month moratorium on new data centers as officials cited electric transmission and generation constraints and unresolved transparency and siting coordination issues.
5/27/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Additional
North Dakota lawmakers announced an interim Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee to study data center water and electricity impacts and AI regulation ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
6/25/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
Barnes County, North Dakota imposed a six-month moratorium on new data centers due to power and transparency concerns raised by Valley City officials.
5/26/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
North Dakota's Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee will hear presentations and public comment Monday at the Capitol in Bismarck on AI and proposed data center development.
8/29/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden and Democratic candidate Dan Ahlers are debating data-center regulation and hyperscale development before November’s general election in South Dakota.
9/3/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong discussed Senate Bill No. 2406, which would restrict agency nondisclosure agreements for data centers, Tuesday in Bismarck before the legislative special session.
9/1/2026 • Policy & Utility Planning • General