The List: The Locations Of All Data Centers In North Dakota

What Exactly is a Data Center

No doubt you have heard all the scuttlebutt about data centers opening in North Dakota, but what exactly are they? What constitutes a data center? I sat down with a member of the Burleigh County Commission, and here's what he told me. "A data center is a physical facility, room, or building that houses computer systems and related equipment to store, process, and transmit large amounts of digital data.

What Do They Do?

They power everyday services such as online banking, email, video streaming, and cloud storage. They also run artificial intelligence, including training and operating AI systems. Many companies use them to keep business software and customer data safe, and monitor systems around the clock.

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Concern Over Data Centers

There has been a lot of pushback on data centers in North Dakota, and all across the country, for that matter. The main points of contention include the massive rise in Artificial Intelligence, the strain these centers put on the power grid and rising electrical bills, and the strain that puts on the power grids in our communities, which leads to massive infrastructure costs that are often passed down to consumers. There's also concern about the environmental demand and how much noise these facilities can make.

Breaking Down North Dakota's Data Centers

The 14 Operational Data Centers Include:

Atlas Power Bakken Data Campus - Williams County

Rainbow Energy Coal Creek Data Center - McLean County

Applied Digital Ellendale AI Campus - Dickey County

Marathon Digital Ellendale Facility -Dickey County

Core Scientific Grand Forks - Grand Forks County

Applied Digital Jamestown AI Campus - Stutsman County

Marathon Digital Jamestown ND - Stutsman County

Midco Fargo Data Center - Cass County

USAF Grand Forks Computing -Grand Forks County

Dakota  Carrier Network Coleman Data Center - Burleigh County

702 Communications Fargo Data Center - Cass County

Consolidated Communications Fargo Data Center - Cass County

DCN Fargo Great Plains Data Center - Cass County

As mentioned, there are 5 others under construction and several proposed data centers. Mandan has been a location that has been mentioned.