Montana-Dakota Utilities Signs Power Agreement with Applied Digital for New AI Factory

Jun 23, 2026
Montana-Dakota Utilities has entered an electric service agreement with Applied Digital to supply power for the planned Polaris Forge 3 AI Factory near Center, North Dakota, which will require up to 430 megawatts of electricity when fully operational.

Montana-Dakota Utilities has entered into an electric service agreement with Applied Digital Corporation (APLD) to provide power for the proposed Polaris Forge 3 AI Factory near Center, North Dakota, according to a press release.

The facility is expected to require up to 430 megawatts of electricity at full capacity. Under the agreement, Applied Digital will be responsible for purchasing energy directly from the market or through other supply arrangements. Initial operations are planned to begin in August 2027.

Polaris Forge 3 will expand Applied Digital’s presence in North Dakota, where it is developing campuses designed for high density artificial intelligence workloads. The company has already secured a 15-year lease with a U.S. investment-grade hyperscaler for the site.

Montana-Dakota Utilities currently provides power to Applied Digital’s Polaris Forge 1 campus near Ellendale, North Dakota. That collaboration has returned $38.4 million in credits to state customers over the past three years. The new agreement will require approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission before service can begin.

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