North Dakota Lawmakers Draft Data Center Rules on Power Costs, Closed-Loop Cooling and Retirement Plans
Data center regulation is taking shape in North Dakota. Republican Representative Anna Novak of the state's coal country presented her bill framework on October 20 to the Legislature's interim Super Intelligence and Data Centers Committee, chaired by Representative Jared Warrey, focusing on the three issues residents raise most: electricity bills, water use and facility retirement, North Dakota Monitor reported on October 21.
The draft would write a "bring your own power" principle into state law, explicitly barring data center costs from being shifted to ordinary ratepayers and requiring utilities to clearly explain the reasons when seeking rate increases; it would also narrow sales tax exemptions for data centers. "We need to make it clear in law that cost shifts caused by large loads or data centers cannot fall on residential customers," Novak said.
On water, the bill would require all data centers to use closed-loop cooling systems that consume less water; Novak noted the state has just come through a drought. On retirement, developers would have to file reuse plans for decommissioned facilities backed by financial assurance, though demolition and full site reclamation would not be mandated. Some lawmakers voiced reservations about parts of the draft. Novak said the text is still being drafted, with introduction targeted for the legislative session opening in January 2027.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：北达科他州议会大厦（Bismarck）。摄影：Bobak Ha'Eri，CC BY 3.0（Wikimedia Commons）。Photo: the North Dakota State Capitol in Bismarck. Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
