North dakota town votes against new regulations for major data center project

Despite a broader trend of voters across the U.S. rejecting data center expansion, the town of Harwood, North Dakota, has drawn attention for its stance on a significant development. While the town did not vote on the construction of the facility itself, residents voted against implementing additional bureaucratic hurdles for such projects. In Harwood, a community of 845 people, approximately 75 percent of the 430 voters opposed new restrictions. This vote pertains to a substantial $3 billion, 1.8-million-square-foot data center being built outside the town by developer Applied Digital. The Washington Post noted that this outcome led to the claim that Harwood is the sole U.S. town to approve data center growth. This local decision contrasts with the sentiment expressed on Election Day, which Mashable's Rebecca Ruiz characterized as a clear signal that the AI reckoning has arrived. Backlash against both artificial intelligence and data centers has been growing throughout 2026, and the list of states banning data centers could expand in 2027. Anna Iovine, associate editor of features at Mashable, previously covered topics ranging from dating apps to pelvic pain.