North Dakota Data Center Intel

Recent North Dakota data center news

• Nov 3, 2025

  Energy Affordability: Price Trends and Factors

  Vincent Potter of the NC Clean Energy Technology Center outlines factors driving U.S. electricity price increases and notes that many utilities have active rate cases as of October 2025.

  • Main announcement/action: The article explains that data center expansion, infrastructure upgrade and replacement costs, and fuel cost volatility are creating upward pressure on retail electricity prices; as of October 2025, at least 50 electric utilities in 29 states and Puerto (Puerto Rico) have rate cases pending before regulators. The piece cites EIA data showing residential prices rose from 16.61¢/kWh in July 2024 to 17.47¢/kWh in July 2025, and an overall 2020–2025 increase of 3.88¢/kWh nationally (with California ≈ +12.5¢/kWh).
  • Background and details: The author highlights data center maps and the DELTa database (NC Clean Energy Technology Center partnered with Smart Electric Power Alliance to compile/release the Database of Emerging Large-load Tariffs) as tools to track large-load tariff developments; it also documents supply-chain delays (Reuters reported ~five-year lead times for new gas turbines) and rising equipment lead times and costs, plus that natural gas supplied over 40% of U.S. electricity in 2024, with wholesale gas prices ranging ~$2.10–$6.60 per Mcf, a 2025 EIA projection of $3.50 per Mcf, and delivered industrial gas ≈ $3.30–$7.70 per Mcf.
• Oct 28, 2025

  Data Centers Are Turning to Gas Generators for Prime Power to Eliminate Long Lead Times for Grid Connections

  Data center developers and equipment suppliers are increasingly using natural gas generator sets and packaged generator solutions as near-term prime power to meet rapid AI-driven compute demand.

  • Main announcement/action: Data center developers (notably Joule Capital Partners with Caterpillar and CAT dealer Wheeler Machinery) are deploying natural gas gensets as prime power at large campuses (Millard County, Utah up to 4 GW planned) with fleets of Caterpillar G3520K (2.5 MW each) and >1 GWh battery storage; the Wonder Valley, Alberta project will use onsite natural gas to power an 8-GW data center with the first 1.5 GW scheduled for completion by 2027. Lead times for utility power can be three to seven years, prompting BYOP (bring your own power) and rapid delivery advantages for gas packages.
  • Background and supporting details:Global Market Insights (GMI) valued the global gas generator market at $6.9 billion in 2024, projecting 8.8% CAGR to $16 billion by 2034, with >330 kVA and >750 kVA segments growing fastest; Fidelity Manufacturing expanded staffing from 40 to >500 and opened a second 86,000 sq ft factory (additional 25,000 sq ft production and warehouse planned) to meet data-center-driven demand. Typical large gas engines available up to ~2.5 MW; custom packaged features, ASCE/SEI and local codes, and OSHA/IBC-compliant access (aluminum framing, anti-slip surfaces) are emphasized. Lead times for larger packaged deliveries can be up to one year or more.
• Oct 6, 2025

  Xcel, Sparkfund Propose Battery Storage Network Across Minnesota

  Xcel Energy has proposed under its CapacityConnect plan to install up to 200 MW of distributed battery storage across Minnesota by 2028, in partnership with Sparkfund.

  • Deployment details: The proposal targets up to 200 MW by 2028, with individual host sites sized 1 MW to 3 MW (approx. shipping-container scale) located at local businesses, commercial or industrial sites, or nonprofit organizations; hosts receive direct payments and Xcel will operate each battery to charge when energy is inexpensive and dispatch during peak demand.
  • Context and implementation: The procurement supports Xcel’s Upper Midwest Energy Plan (which calls for 600 MW of storage by 2030); Xcel will file the proposal with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, scale deployments in collaboration with Sparkfund, prioritize local workers, comply with Xcel’s labor standards, and review performance, costs, and customer experience as the program grows.
• Oct 2, 2025

  Hitachi Energy, Grid United Advance North Plains Connector to Link Eastern and Western Grids

  Hitachi Energy and Grid United have formalized an Engineering Services Agreement (ESA) to advance the North Plains Connector (NPC) HVDC project.

  • Announcement details: The ESA (announced Oct. 2, 2025) tasks Hitachi Energy with early-stage engineering services for the ±525 kV, 3-GW, ~420-mile HVDC line between Colstrip, Montana and endpoints in Center and St. Anthony, North Dakota, including technical specifications for two HVDC converter stations, valve hall layouts, control-system architecture, harmonic mitigation studies, dynamic and steady-state modeling, and AC–DC interface definitions for integration with MISO, SPP, and WECC. Grid United will advance corridor refinement, land-rights acquisition, stakeholder engagement, environmental permitting support, and supply-chain sequencing for long-lead items; procurement timelines will be aligned with permitting and construction schedules.

  • Background and concrete project details: The NPC is a $3.2 billion project that received $700 million from DOE’s GRIP program (with a $2.8 billion recipient cost share); Grid United expects approvals in 2026, potential construction begin in 2028, and operation in 2032. An Astrapé/PNNL-reviewed evaluation estimated an ELCC of ~3,550 MW and quantified reliability benefits (~1,800 MW for WECC, 1,350 MW for SPP, 400 MW for MISO). The ESA is an enabling engineering step but does not constitute a final investment decision.

• Sep 3, 2025

  New Data Center Developments: September 2025

  DataCenterKnowledge published a curated roundup of recent global data center project announcements and large power and financing deals.

  • Key development summary: The roundup details multiple major projects and deals, including Equinix’s new partnerships with Radiant, ULC-Energy, and Stellaria for next-gen nuclear power and expanded solid-oxide fuel cell use with Bloom Energy; Caterpillar agreed with Joule Capital Partners to provide 4 GW of CHP power for a planned Utah campus (target launch sometime next year); Meta’s Hyperion Louisiana campus is expected to consume up to 5 GW; CoreWeave bought a 102-acre campus for $322 million; Vantage revealed plans to invest over $25 billion in a 1.4 GW / 1,200-acre Texas campus; EdgeConneX and Lambda are developing a 30+ MW dual-city AI data center in Chicago and Atlanta; Oracle / Elea / Rio de Janeiro target 1.5 GW by 2027 (expandable to 3.2 GW by 2032) for ‘Rio AI City’.
  • Background and technical/financial details: The article frames projects against record-breaking demand and grid limitations; it notes energy and cooling approaches such as CHP and captured waste heat, solid-oxide fuel cells, high-voltage battery storage, and CDC Australia’s proposed 200 MW campus with a closed-loop zero-water primary cooling system. It also lists financing and deal figures: QTS announcing a $10 billion campus, STACK investing $1.66 billion in Johor, NEXTDC adding A$3.5 billion new debt within A$6.4 billion total facilities, and Keppel raising $4.9 billion this year toward a $150 billion funds target by 2030.
• Apr 25, 2025

  Planet TV Studios’ 'New Frontiers' Spotlights Companies Shaping Their Industries - Airing April 26, 2025 on Bloomberg TV - The content in the episode is a Planet TV Studios Original & it is brought to you by & sponsored by Planet TV Studios

  Planet TV Studios presents its documentary series episode “New Frontiers” focusing on companies driving impactful innovation in sustainability, healthcare, and infrastructure.

  • Hollobus Technologies pioneers sustainable data centers with liquid-cooling systems and on-site renewable energy reducing energy and carbon footprint.
  • Mirion Technologies enhances safety in medical imaging and radiation use with advanced monitoring and shielding products.
  • MonDak Portables, LLC offers eco-friendly portable infrastructure with rapid deployment for disaster relief incorporating sustainable waste management.
  • NeOnc Technologies Holdings, Inc. innovates brain cancer treatment with intranasal drug delivery bypassing blood-brain barrier, utilizing NEO100 nasal spray.
  • The episode aired on April 26, 2025, on Bloomberg TV and is available on multiple streaming platforms.

  This episode underscores practical and sustainable technological advances influencing health, environmental stewardship, and infrastructure.

• Apr 14, 2025

  Minnesota lawmakers squabble over data centers, possible environmental impacts

  Minnesota lawmakers have debated a bipartisan bill to change the permitting processes for data centers in the state, pushed by Sen. Andrew Mathews. The bill aims to loosen restrictions on generator permits, currently limited to emergency use. This has raised concerns among Democrats about potential environmental impacts and the influence of large corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. Some lawmakers propose legislation to regulate water use and enforce a 65% carbon-free energy supply for data centers, emphasizing the growing energy demands and water usage they entail.

• Mar 6, 2025

  Lawmakers Scrutinize Power Sector’s Future as Surging Demand Raises Alarms

  US-based Basin Electric Power Cooperative has raised concerns in Congress regarding the escalating demand for electricity, specifically noting a significant increase tied to AI-driven data centers and industrial loads. They estimate a need for nearly $10 billion in compliance costs due to new regulations alongside an expected 60% increase in rates by 2035. The demand for natural gas is projected to triple from 2024 to 2030, emphasizing the urgent need for enhanced natural gas infrastructure to maintain grid reliability. Furthermore, PJM Interconnection’s forecasts predict a summer peak demand of up to 220,000 MW by 2039, driven by demand from emerging technologies and manufacturing.

• Feb 5, 2025

  Losing construction sectors under Trump

  The Trump administration’s energy policies have left the wind and solar sectors essentially unsupported, as a significant executive order temporarily suspended new leases for wind projects. This decision affects the development of ongoing and future renewable projects in the U.S. Additionally, the administration indicated potential cuts in funding for EV infrastructure, voicing plans to rescind the electric vehicle mandate established by Biden.

• Jan 30, 2025

  National Grid Renewables Announces Start of Operations at Two Solar Projects in Southern Minnesota

  US-based National Grid Renewables has announced the start of operations at its Fillmore County Solar (45 MW) and Louise Solar (50 MW) projects, which are located in Southern Minnesota. Together, these projects will deliver a combined 95 megawatts of clean, homegrown solar power. Xcel Energy has executed power purchase agreements for both projects, contributing to Xcel’s commitment to deliver 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. The projects are anticipated to avoid more than 2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over their first 20 years of operation.