Dem-NPL Leads on Data Center Transparency, Introduces Moratorium and NDA Bills
Vern Thompson and Democratic-NPL Candidates Call for Data Center legislation in Special Session
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For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BISMARCK, N.D. - Vern Thompson, candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, held a press conference Tuesday, August 11, at 10 AM, at the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library to request the legislature address two bills during September’s special legislative session: a one-year statewide moratorium on new data center permits and a ban on NDAs for public officials regarding data centers.
“As I travel across North Dakota, citizens keep telling me the same thing. We need time. We need a pause. A one-year moratorium on new data center permits will protect local control.” - Vern Thompson
Thompson on NDAs:
“North Dakota deserves better than NDAs. North Dakota deserves time to think, plan, and protect its future.” - Vern Thompson
Senator Tim Mathern announced he has submitted these two bills to the legislative council for consideration.
“Data center developers have been hiding information from the public. Passage of this bill assures that critical information is available to the citizens and public officials regarding data center projects.” - Senator Mathern
Thompson sent letters to Governor Armstrong, Senate Majority Leader Hogue, Senate Minority Leader Hogan, Speaker of the House Weisz, House Majority Leader Lefor, and House Minority Leader Ista asking they vote on the bills during the special session. A copy of the letter to Governor Armstrong is attached to this press release, along with visuals from the press conference.
John Pederson, candidate for Public Service Commission, announced that the PSC should have jurisdiction over data centers.
“The data center boom seems like the Wild West without a marshall or a sheriff. Scot Kelsh and I call on the legislature to grant the Public Service Commission jurisdiction over data centers…The consequences for our energy grid and energy rates put this in the PSC’s purview.” - John Pederson
Signe Snortland, District 33 Senate Candidate, spoke on the current status of the moratorium and ordinances in Mandan.
Bill Patrie, District 47 Senate Candidate, said, "A moratorium gives us time to think. Let's not be silly and invest billions of dollars and billions of BTUs of energy into something we don't yet understand."
Questions from the public ranged from water, energy, natural gas, transmission, environmental impact, secrecy, transparency, and whether the Legislature would take up the bills.
Citizens spoke about their personal experience with data centers built or proposed near their homes. They were encouraged to contact their legislators on thompson4nd.com.
35 members of the public, including Secretary of State Candidate and sitting Senator on the Legislative Management Council Ryan Braunberger, several Bismarck-Mandan Dem-NPL candidates (Signe Snortland, Bill Patrie, Kevin Horneman, Tim Spillman, Kelly Spillman, and Tiffany Williams-Rice) and Helene Neville, Independent Candidate for US House attended the press conference. KFYR, KX News, the Bismarck Tribune, and Prairie Public were in attendance to report.
When asked what the plan is if the data center bills are not considered during the special session, Thompson replied, “People will have to get out and vote in November.”
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About Vern Thompson
Vern Thompson, a former farmer and trucker, is the grassroots Democratic-NPL candidate for North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner, running against incumbent Doug Goehring. Thompson is blowing the whistle on a rigged system that puts out-of-state corporations ahead of the farmers, ranchers, and communities North Dakota government is supposed to serve. Learn more at thompson4nd.com.
Contact:
Sandra Larson
Policy Development Specialist
Vern Thompson for ND Agriculture Commissioner
701-399-6203