AI data center sites in North Dakota
44 North Dakota counties scored on transmission, the interconnection queue, power price and tax. Updated October 18, 2026.
Open a county for its queue requests, substations, plants and data centers.
| County | Score | Pipeline | Power price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | 1.9 GW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 65 | 1.1 GW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 63 | 1.9 GW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 61 | 404 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 61 | 300 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 56 | 628 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 55 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 52 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 51 | 300 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 51 | 247 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 48 | 521 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 46 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 46 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 45 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 44 | 295 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 44 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 43 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 43 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 42 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 41 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 41 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 40 | 170 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 40 | 90 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 40 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 39 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 38 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 38 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 38 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 38 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 38 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 35 | 140 MW | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 35 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 34 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 33 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 33 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 32 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 31 | - | 8.2¢/kWh | |
| 29 | - | 8.2¢/kWh |
Pipeline: active generation and storage requests in the ISO queue, or EIA planned plants where larger (outside the ISOs). Top kV: highest substation voltage. Power price: the state's industrial average. DCs: GPU colocation, mining sites and AI campuses.
What the data shows
The strongest North Dakota counties for a large AI load are Mercer County (68), Cass County (65) and Williams County (63) on the site score. North Dakota sits in MISO and SPP; its ISO queues hold 7.6 GW of active generation and storage requests, 827 MW of them with a signed interconnection agreement, and it has 18 substations at 345 kV and up.
Industrial power averaged 8.2¢/kWh (EIA, July 2026 YTD), against 7.5¢/kWh a year earlier, the 18th lowest of the 50 states and DC. North Dakota has a data center sales and use tax exemption in force. We track 3 AI campuses and 0 GPU-ready colocation facilities here.
Top 6 counties in detail
1. Mercer CountySPP
Site score 68 of 100
- Transmission
- 22/25
- Generation pipeline
- 9/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 9/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 0/10
- Market
- SPP
- Queue (active)
- 1.9 GW
- Agreement signed
- 0 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 0 MW
- Top substation
- 345 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 6
- Operating plants
- 2.6 GW
- Retired or retiring
- 0 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leland Olds 345kV SubstationSPP ERAS-2025-012, in service 2029-09 | Leland Olds 345kV Substation | 750 | Gas | In study |
| Leland Olds 345kV SubstationSPP ERAS-2025-011, in service 2029-09 | Leland Olds 345kV Substation | 750 | Gas | In study |
| BASIN__-BE4 230 kV SubstationSPP GEN-2024-141, in service 2031-10 | BASIN__-BE4 230 kV Substation | 212 | Wind | In study |
| Leland Olds 345kV substationSPP GEN-2019-037, in service 2023-12 | Leland Olds 345kV substation | 150 | Solar | Suspended |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- LELAND OLDS · 9 lines345 kV
- ANTELOPE VALLEY STATION · 6 lines345 kV
- COYOTE · 4 lines345 kV
- Unnamed · 7 lines230 kV
- STANTON · 4 lines230 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines230 kV
- BEULAH · 4 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
2. Cass CountyMISO
Site score 65 of 100
- Transmission
- 22/25
- Generation pipeline
- 7/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 0/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 7/10
- Market
- MISO
- Queue (active)
- 1.1 GW
- Agreement signed
- 0 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 0 MW
- Top substation
- 345 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 6
- Operating plants
- 4 MW
- Retired or retiring
- 0 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BISONMISO J3163, in service 2028-03 | BISON | 481 | Solar or wind + storage | In study |
| Buffalo 115 kVMISO J3833, in service 2028-09 | Buffalo 115 kV | 200 | Wind | In study |
| BisonMISO J3522, in service 2028-08 | Bison | 200 | Solar | In study |
| BISONMISO S1079, in service 2028-07 | BISON | 200 | Storage | In study |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- MAPLE RIVER · 7 lines345 kV
- BUFFALO · 4 lines345 kV
- BISON · 3 lines345 kV
- SHEYENNE · 6 lines230 kV
- FARGO · 6 lines230 kV
- FRONTIER · 2 lines230 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- RED RIVER · 2 lines115 kV
Data centers, AI campuses and mining sites
- Applied Digital Polaris Forge 2 · AI campus, under construction, 280 MW · DCD
- Applied Digital, Polaris Forge 2 · mining site, 200 MW
Colocation from our GPU colocation list; mining sites from the miner AI conversion tracker.
3. Williams CountySPP
Site score 63 of 100
- Transmission
- 16/25
- Generation pipeline
- 12/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 7/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 0/10
- Market
- SPP
- Queue (active)
- 1.9 GW
- Agreement signed
- 255 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 1.5 GW
- Top substation
- 345 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 2
- Operating plants
- 1.3 GW
- Retired or retiring
- 0 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springbrook - Tande 345 kV LineSPP GEN-2024-082, in service 2029-05 | Springbrook - Tande 345 kV Line | 745 | Gas | In study |
| Springbrook - Tande 345 kV LineSPP GEN-2024-081, in service 2028-04 | Springbrook - Tande 345 kV Line | 745 | Gas | In study |
| 115kV Strandahl subSPP GEN-2018-067, in service 2020-10 | 115kV Strandahl sub | 255 | Wind | Agreement signed |
| Pleasant Valley 115 kV SubstationSPP GEN-2024-329, in service 2027-07 | Pleasant Valley 115 kV Substation | 200 | Storage | In study |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- JUDSON · 5 lines345 kV
- WILLISTON 230 KV · 10 lines230 kV
- NESET 230 KV · 5 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 4 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
Planned, retiring and retired plants
- Bison Generation Station · Gas, planned 20291.5 GW
4. Oliver CountyMISO
Site score 61 of 100
- Transmission
- 16/25
- Generation pipeline
- 7/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 7/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 4/10
- Market
- MISO
- Queue (active)
- 404 MW
- Agreement signed
- 202 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 0 MW
- Top substation
- 345 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 2
- Operating plants
- 1 GW
- Retired or retiring
- 0 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basin Electric 230 kVSPP GEN-2026-SR33 | Basin Electric 230 kV | 202 | Storage | In study |
| Basin Electric 230 kVSPP GEN-2016-004, in service 2022-10 | Basin Electric 230 kV | 202 | Wind | Agreement signed |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- CENTER 345KV SWITCHYARD · 8 lines345 kV
- MILTON R YOUNG · 4 lines230 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
Data centers, AI campuses and mining sites
- Applied Digital Polaris Forge 3 · AI campus, announced, 430 MW · Applied Digital
Colocation from our GPU colocation list; mining sites from the miner AI conversion tracker.
5. Dickey CountyMISO
Site score 61 of 100
- Transmission
- 18/25
- Generation pipeline
- 4/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 4/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 7/10
- Market
- MISO
- Queue (active)
- 300 MW
- Agreement signed
- 0 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 0 MW
- Top substation
- 345 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 3
- Operating plants
- 330 MW
- Retired or retiring
- 0 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EllendaleMISO J3280, in service 2028-09 | Ellendale | 300 | Wind | In study |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- ELLENDALE · 5 lines345 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines230 kV
- OAKES · 2 lines230 kV
Data centers, AI campuses and mining sites
- Applied Digital Polaris Forge 1 · AI campus, operating, 400 MW · Bisnow
- Applied Digital, Polaris Forge 1 · mining site, 400 MW, converting to AI/HPC
Colocation from our GPU colocation list; mining sites from the miner AI conversion tracker.
6. Morton CountyMISO
Site score 56 of 100
- Transmission
- 14/25
- Generation pipeline
- 5/20
- Industrial power price
- 18/20
- Existing and retiring plants
- 8/15
- Sales tax exemption
- 10/10
- Data center activity
- 0/10
- Market
- MISO
- Queue (active)
- 450 MW
- Agreement signed
- 0 MW
- Planned plants (EIA)
- 628 MW
- Top substation
- 230 kV
- Substations 230 kV+
- 3
- Operating plants
- 994 MW
- Retired or retiring
- 120 MW
- Industrial power, ND
- 8.2¢/kWh
- Sales tax exemption
- Yes
Largest queue requests
| Project | Point of interconnection | MW | Type | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square Butte 230 kV Substation EastMISO J2502, in service 2025-02 | Square Butte 230 kV Substation East | 150 | Wind | In study |
| Tri-County 230 kV SubstationMISO J2157, in service 2025-05 | Tri-County 230 kV Substation | 100 | Wind | In study |
| Tri-County 230 kV SubstationMISO J2097, in service 2025-05 | Tri-County 230 kV Substation | 100 | Wind | In study |
| Square Butte 230 kV Substation EastMISO J3070, in service 2025-02 | Square Butte 230 kV Substation East | 100 | Wind | In study |
Substations, 115 kV and up
- MANDAN JUNCTION · 8 lines230 kV
- MANDAN JUNCTION · 4 lines230 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines230 kV
- RISER155888 · 4 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- NORTHWEST MANDAN SWICTHING STATION · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
- Unnamed · 3 lines115 kV
Planned, retiring and retired plants
- New Salem Wind II · Wind, planned 2028226 MW
- Red Butte Wind · Wind, planned 2027202 MW
- New Salem Wind I · Wind, planned 2028200 MW
- R M Heskett · Coal, retired 2022115 MW
Data center tax exemption in North Dakota
North Dakota qualified data center sales and use tax exemption (N.D.C.C. § 57-39.2-04.17)
Enterprise IT equipment (servers, cooling, power infrastructure, substations, backup power, racking) and software, including upgrades and replacements, are exempt for owners, operators and tenants of Tax Commissioner-certified data centers of at least 15,000 sq ft (at least half used for data processing) built or substantially refurbished after 2020; there is no investment or jobs minimum, electricity and building construction are not covered, and no sunset is stated.
Recent change: No 2025-2026 statutory change found; the interim Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee is reviewing the exemption ahead of the 2027 session (reported savings topped $65 million for 2025).
Source: North Dakota Legislative Branch, accessed 2026-10-17. General information, not tax advice; ask your tax advisor.
AI data centers being built in North Dakota
| Campus | Developer | County | MW | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Digital Polaris Forge 3Users: Investment-grade hyperscaler (unnamed) | Applied Digital | Oliver County | 430 | announced | Applied DigitalMay 20, 2026 |
| Applied Digital Polaris Forge 1Users: CoreWeave | Applied Digital | Dickey County | 400 | operating | BisnowJun 2025 |
| Applied Digital Polaris Forge 2Users: Investment-grade hyperscaler (unnamed) | Applied Digital | Cass County | 280 | under construction | DCDAug 2025 |
Busiest points of interconnection in North Dakota
| # | Point of interconnection | County | ISO | Requests | Queued MW | Mostly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leland Olds 345kV Substation | Mercer County, ND | SPP | 3 | 1,650 | Gas |
| 2 | Springbrook - Tande 345 kV Line | Williams County, ND | SPP | 2 | 1,490 | Gas |
How the score works
Six parts out of 100: transmission (25), generation in the queue (20), the state's industrial power price (20), existing and retiring plants (15), sales tax exemption (10) and data center activity (10). The site finder's methodology prints each formula and every source with its date. Markets: MISO (Midwest and South), SPP (Plains).
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Discuss a transaction
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