Data Center Impacts to be Discussed at Public Forum in Harwood August 28

HARWOOD, N.D. - Vern Thompson, candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, will host a Data Center Forum on Friday, August 28, 7:00-9:00 PM, at the Harwood Community Center, 210 Freedland Drive. This event is for the public to have their voices heard and get answers on what we know and what we can do about data center development across the state of North Dakota. Presenters will talk about energy and water use, development scale, potential benefits, impacts, and what communities can do to plan.

Agenda:

1. ND Data Center Overview, presented by Environmental Engineer Sandra Larson

2. Responsible Hyperscale Development Framework, presented by Vern Thompson ‍

3. Harwood-Specific Updates by Harwood Community Members

4. Public Q&A

Members of the public are welcome. Current Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring was invited but will not be in attendance. Representatives from Applied Digital, developer of the Polaris Forge 2 data center in Harwood, have also been invited.

Thompson on a data center permit moratorium:

“As I travel across North Dakota, citizens keep telling me the same thing. We need time. We need a pause. A one-year moratorium on new data center permits will protect local control.” - Vern Thompson

Thompson on NDAs:

“North Dakota deserves better than NDAs. North Dakota deserves time to think, plan, and protect its future.” - Vern Thompson

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About Vern Thompson

Vern Thompson, a former farmer and trucker, is the grassroots Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, running against incumbent Doug Goehring. The Agriculture Commissioner serves on the Industrial Commission, which shapes industrial development in North Dakota. Thompson is blowing the whistle on a rigged system that puts out-of-state corporations ahead of the farmers, ranchers, and communities North Dakota government is supposed to serve. Learn more at thompson4nd.com.