Applied Digital announced it plans to break ground in September 2025 on Polaris Forge 2, a $3 billion, 280-megawatt (MW) AI Factory near Harwood, North Dakota. Designed with the ability to scale beyond its initial 280MW, the campus—with initial capacity in 2026 and reaching full capacity in early 2027—further advances Applied Digital’s rapid growth and reinforces North Dakota’s position as one of the most strategically important destinations for AI infrastructure in the United States.
The new project comes as demand for AI computing capacity continues to surge, with hyperscalers, enterprises, and research organizations seeking scalable, high-performance infrastructure. Polaris Forge 2 builds on the success of Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 1 Ellendale campus, expanding the company’s presence in a state that offers abundant energy, available land, and a pro-business climate.
The proposed development initially includes two facilities with capacity for future expansion. Applied Digital has contracted more than 900 acres for the campus and secured power through Cass County Electric Cooperative. Once fully operational, the site is expected to employ more than 200 full-time employees, in addition to long-term contractors.
Cass County Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative serving counties across North Dakota:
Minnkota Power Cooperative is committed to delivering safe, reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electricity across North Dakota:
The Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation (GFMEDC) works to cultivate an economic environment where all people and organizations flourish:
With abundant power resources, including renewable, available land, and a growing base of technical talent, we believe North Dakota is rapidly becoming a preferred destination for AI infrastructure. Polaris Forge 2 is expected to advance Applied Digital’s mission to build sustainable, high-performance digital infrastructure that powers innovation and delivers lasting economic and community benefits.
Wes Cummins, CEO of Applied Digital
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. The demand for AI capacity continues to accelerate, and North Dakota continues to be one of the most strategic locations in the country to meet that need. We have strong interest from multiple parties and are in advanced negotiations with a U.S. based investment-grade hyperscaler for this campus, making it both timely and prudent to proceed with groundbreaking and site development. We believe this new campus will strengthen our operations, increase our ability to scale, and create lasting value for both our customers and the communities we serve.
Paul Matthys, Cass County Electric Cooperative President and CEO
We are excited to have the opportunity to provide Applied Digital with the power they need to drive innovation and technology in a way that benefits our communities and legacy members. As we work through the final stages of an agreement, we will continue to keep our cooperative values at heart while preparing to meet the needs of future generations.
Mac McLennan, Minnkota Power Cooperative President and CEO
We’re proud to work with Applied Digital to help bring a state-of-the-art data center to our region. This project represents an important opportunity to drive technological progress and create lasting benefits for our cooperative membership. As we work toward a final agreement, our focus is on making sure it is integrated in a way that strengthens our communities, supports reliable and responsible power, and builds on the strong foundation we have established through more than 85 years of service to this region.
Joe Raso, GFMEDC President & CEO
The Greater Fargo Moorhead EDC is excited about the opportunity to support this preliminary dynamic project for our region. Having worked with Applied Digital on various aspects of this project, including a recent visit to their Ellendale, ND, datacenter currently under construction, we can see the substantial economic benefit this project will have for the greater Fargo region. EDC staff have already conducted various workforce assessments that show our market’s ability to provide the talent needed to support this facility and are confident Applied Digital’s operations will fit nicely with our region’s talent pool.
