HARWOOD, N.D. (KVRR) – While the construction on the Applied Digital data center in Harwood rolls on, the debate over its approval process isn’t going away. And now it’s heading to the polls, with an amendment to create more transparency on how future negotiations are done.
“When we found out about this last August it was so quick. It was stifling. It was a gut punch. I can’t put words to it,” Voices of Harwood member Mike Swartz said.
Voices of Harwood was put together in response to the data center process and what they see as a lack of transparency from city officials. They’re hoping to change that with a new amendment to the city’s home-rule charter.
“In talking with my peers, we thought about what are some of those things that are common sense objectives that a big decision like this should go through,” Swartz said.
They say they were blindsided by the approval of the data center.
“It was “Hey you’re going to have a new neighbor” and 21 days later the first dozers were out here. 21 days, you signed a three billion dollar deal that changes everybody’s lives in this community and the surrounding area forever,” Swartz said.
If adopted, the amendment would create regulations around how negotiations are conducted for mid and large scale industrial projects.
“This isn’t a blanket amendment that covers any kind of progress in our community. We’re very open to growth in our community,” Swartz said.
Some have objected to the cost concerns, as well as how it may impact the business climate in Harwood, but Swarz says that is not the case.
“We’re not objecting to growth. This is not supposed to stop growth. It’s supposed to hold the businesses coming in and seeking to be our neighbors to be accountable. To want to work with the community, to want to work with the residents inside the community, not just the five people on the council,” Swartz said.
And that in a small community like Harwood, these decisions can have outsized impacts.
“I don’t think that five people get to decide our fates on what we put years of our lives into,” Swartz said.
The amendment is set for the ballot in November.
Applied Digital held a town hall meeting on its data center in August 2025 after plans for construction were finished.
Company officials say data centers are beneficial to communities providing good jobs for people in the skilled trades like electricians and add to the tax base.
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