“Like being hit between the eyes with a sledgehammer”: Meet the one town in America that defied election trends and voted in favor of data centers
In a midterm election punctuated by America’s overwhelming distaste for data centers, one small town in North Dakota has bucked the trend.
TL;DR
- Harwood, North Dakota, was the sole town to vote in favor of data center development in a recent midterm election.
- A ballot measure to limit large-scale industrial developments, including data centers, was rejected by approximately 75% of Harwood voters.
- The measure was introduced following the start of a 160-acre data center project by Applied Digital Corp., with Oracle as the end-user.
- Concerns raised by opponents included potential noise pollution, lack of transparency, and the speed of the development approval process.
- Supporters, including the developer and town officials, emphasized job creation, economic benefits, and tax revenue as reasons to approve the development.
- The town's proximity to Fargo, a cooler climate, and access to energy were cited as reasons for choosing Harwood.
- Debate also centered on the wording of the ballot measure and the potential financial impact on taxpayers if the measure passed.
- Ultimately, the prospect of tax benefits and economic gains appeared to outweigh concerns about energy costs and other potential negative impacts for the majority of voters.