Harwood Voters Reject 3-to-1 Data Center Oversight Measure for $3 Billion Project
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 8
Harwood Voters Reject 3-to-1 Data Center Oversight Measure for $3 Billion Project
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 8
Summary
Harwood voters defeated a ballot measure requiring independent reviews and public hearings for large industrial projects, rejecting tighter scrutiny of a $3 billion Applied Digital data center by 325 votes to 105.
Town leaders and backers argued the 1.8 million-square-foot project would likely be built nearby anyway and that Harwood should keep the upside—about $1.65 million in property taxes, roughly six times its 2024 haul, plus at least 200 jobs.
Opponents had raised concerns about power costs, noise, environmental effects, nondisclosure agreements and who might pay for cleanup if the facility becomes obsolete, but supporters warned the measure could trigger legal fights or jeopardize the project.
Harwood stood out nationally: voters elsewhere backed at least dozens of anti-data-center measures, 76% of voters in exit polls said they would oppose a new data center in their community, and tech companies are now offering concessions such as water-use disclosure.