North Dakota eyes data centers as economic game changer

During a recent government meeting, key discussions centered around North Dakota's industrial priorities, with a strong emphasis on the development of data centers, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and agricultural processing.

The meeting highlighted data centers as the top industrial need for North Dakota, with a significant demand for energy resources. Currently, the state has 3.7 gigawatts of sustainable baseload power available, but prospective data centers are seeking up to 10 gigawatts. This raises questions about the state's capacity to meet such demands, particularly concerning water resources, which were identified as a critical factor for success. The potential for property tax revenue from these data centers was also noted as a compelling reason to pursue their establishment, despite concerns about job creation, as data centers are not labor-intensive.

Sustainable aviation fuel emerged as another priority, described as \"ethanol plants on steroids.\" The discussion pointed out that major airlines are competing for SAF, which could be produced in North Dakota, especially in areas with corn production. However, the attractiveness of SAF production is enhanced by the ability to sequester CO2, with geological formations suitable for this extending 40 miles east of the Missouri River.

Agricultural processing was also a focal point, particularly in dairy production. Projects in Trail County and Richland County are expected to shift focus to North Dakota due to challenges faced in neighboring states. The potential for cheese and powdered milk facilities was mentioned, alongside opportunities in high-density livestock farming.

Additionally, the meeting touched on the mining of rare earth metals and the potential for crypto mining, although there was some hesitation regarding the latter due to market volatility. The discussion concluded with a call for a more proactive approach to attracting industries, including a hypothetical meeting with Elon Musk to discuss the establishment of a battery factory in the state.

Overall, the meeting underscored North Dakota's strategic focus on leveraging its energy resources and agricultural strengths to attract new industries, while also addressing the challenges that come with such developments.