Applied Digital Polaris Forge 2 - Bldg 1

Applied Digital has announced plans for Polaris Forge 2, a $3 billion AI-focused data center campus near Harwood in Cass County, North Dakota. The 900-acre site will support up to 280MW of capacity and utilize the company’s proprietary liquid-cooled infrastructure design. Groundbreaking is scheduled for September 2025, with initial operations beginning in 2026 and full buildout expected by early 2027.

The campus will launch with two buildings and has secured power through Cass County Electric Cooperative. Applied Digital is in advanced negotiations with a U.S.-based investment-grade hyperscaler to anchor the site, which is positioned to meet growing demand for high-performance AI infrastructure. The company emphasized North Dakota’s strategic value for scalable, energy-efficient deployments.

Polaris Forge 2 builds on Applied’s existing footprint in the state, including its Ellendale campus (Polaris Forge 1), originally developed for cryptomining and now repurposed for AI and HPC workloads. The firm also operates a 106MW facility in Jamestown and is planning a 200MW site in Iowa, with additional expansion eyed in South Dakota.