North Dakota's Legislative Council AI and Data Center Committee meeting at Grand Farm, October 6, 2026 (KFGO News Photo / Nate Coen)
WHEATLAND, N.D. (KFGO) – The North Dakota Legislative Council Artificial Intelligence and Data Center Committee met Tuesday at the Grand Farm campus in Wheatland west of Casselton. The committee is made up of North Dakota Legislators that heard from industry experts on how data centers impact the state.
A data center proposal in the Harmony township near Casselton and Mapleton has created lots of public discussion, with some residents and neighbors feeling like they’ve been left without answers while a large industrial project is built in their backyard.
During an open comments period at today’s meeting, some like Sam Wagner of Casselton, say that small town residents should hold off on pointing blame at their local board members.
Sam Wagner of Casselton speaks at an AI and Data Center Committee meeting, October 6, 2026 (KFGO News Photo / Nate Coen)
“I would just respectfully ask everyone here, you know, when you talk to a township official, try to listen to their side of the story too and don’t jump to conclusions as well.” Wagner said.
Some expressed concerns over the Harmony Data Center proposal being located on farm land, Representative Todd Porter of Mandan says that some farmers might not realize how they benefit from data centers.
“What makes John Deere stock move? One of the reasons is they became a technology company. They gave GPS autonomous equipment, precision ag automated steering, variable rate planting and spraying, machine connectivity, data analytics, autonomous tractors and so on and so forth. So every farmer that’s out there using a piece of John Deere equipment, that’s subscribed to their systems, is using a data center.” Porter said.
Some used the open comments period to criticize data center developments, saying that data center companies take advantage of small communities like the Harmony township.
Vern Thompson is a democratic candidate for North Dakota Ag Commissioner, he used his time in the open comments period to call out North Dakota leadership that has failed to set guidelines for data center development.
“We’re concerned about the lack of leadership by state elected officials on this data center issue. North Dakota needs direction, we need a roadmap, the state can’t be successful at economic development without a plan.” Thompson said.
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