Voters in Harwood, North Dakota, have rejected a proposal to restrict large industrial projects, including data centers. Approximately 75% of the local electorate voted against an amendment to the Home Rule Charter that would have required additional public hearings and reviews for such developments.
The outcome of the vote supports the construction of a data center by Applied Digital on a 160-acre site. Oracle is identified as the intended end user for this facility. Harwood is the only community among more than 40 nationwide ballot measures to reject restrictions on data centers.
Market observers are now tracking whether this decision will impact national trends regarding data center regulation. Attention is also directed toward Oklahoma, where the probability of a statewide moratorium by December 2027 is currently viewed as reduced, with Governor Kevin Stitt and the state legislature playing key roles.
