Applied Digital will break ground in September 2025 on Polaris Forge 2, a $3 billion AI data center campus in Harwood, North Dakota. The new facility, designed for 280MW of capacity with room to scale, is slated to begin operations in 2026 and reach full capacity in early 2027. The project expands Applied Digital’s footprint in North Dakota following its Ellendale campus and reinforces the state’s role as a major hub for AI infrastructure.
The campus will cover more than 900 acres and initially include two facilities, with power secured through Cass County Electric Cooperative and Minnkota Power Cooperative. Once complete, Polaris Forge 2 will employ over 200 full-time staff and additional contractors. Applied Digital said it is in advanced negotiations with a U.S.-based investment-grade hyperscaler as an anchor customer. Local leaders highlighted the project’s economic potential, citing workforce housing, technical training, and community partnerships as key benefits.
Applied Digital, founded in 2021 and headquartered in Dallas, builds high-performance, waterless-cooled data centers designed for AI, cloud, and blockchain workloads. The company was named Best Data Center in the Americas 2025 by Datacloud. Its expansion into Harwood continues its Polaris Forge model, combining rapid deployment with regional economic development.
- Investment: $3 billion for Polaris Forge 2 campus
- Capacity: 280MW with expansion potential
- Timeline: Initial operations in 2026; full buildout by early 2027
- Location: Harwood, North Dakota (900 acres)
- Employment: 200+ full-time jobs plus contractors
- Power: Cass County Electric Cooperative, Minnkota Power Cooperative
- Customer: In advanced talks with a U.S. investment-grade hyperscaler
- Related Project: Polaris Forge 1 in Ellendale, ND
“We believe Polaris Forge 2 represents the next stage in Applied Digital’s rapid growth and our position as a leader in delivering high-performance AI infrastructure,” said Wes Cummins, CEO of Applied Digital.
🌐 Analysis: Applied Digital’s $3 billion bet on North Dakota underscores the state’s rise as a strategic location for AI infrastructure, leveraging affordable land, cooperative energy models, and a supportive regulatory climate. The project mirrors trends seen in Texas and Virginia, where hyperscalers are rapidly expanding AI-specific campuses. By anchoring its growth in North Dakota, Applied Digital is positioning itself against competitors like CoreWeave, Vantage, and DigitalBridge, who are also pursuing large-scale AI builds tied to hyperscaler demand.
