An inside look at the Harwood data center as it nears completion

Key Points:

• Approximately 1,800 workers are finalizing two massive AI data center buildings in Harwood, North Dakota, totaling 1.8 million square feet and surpassing the state's largest existing building, an Amazon fulfillment center.
• The $3 billion Polaris Forge 2 project, approved in September 2025, is part of Applied Digital's expanding data center presence in North Dakota, with parts expected to be operational by late 2026 and full operation by early 2027.
• The 280-megawatt facility will draw electricity from Cass County Electric, with Applied Digital investing $112 million in substation and transmission upgrades, and the company asserts it will not raise local electricity costs despite community concerns.
• The data center features advanced infrastructure including redundant generators, a closed-loop cooling system that minimizes water use, and augmented reality technology for construction oversight; it will employ 200 to 250 people once operational.
• Applied Digital has not revealed tenant companies for the facility, but anticipates becoming North Dakota's largest single taxpayer by 2029, with no tax incentives granted for Polaris Forge 2.