Statement by Vern Thompson On New Fargo-Area Data Center
For Immediate Release:
Thursday, September 3, 2026
FARGO, ND - News broke in the Fargo Forum1 this afternoon that Geronimo Power, a Minnesota company valued at over a billion dollars, has reached a purchase agreement for nearly one square mile (640 acres) of land west of Fargo, supposedly to build a data center. A spokesperson for Geronimo states, “We are encouraged by the recently proposed Bakken East Pipeline Project”.
Is this a coordinated effort with our elected officials, or did it happen overnight?
Timeline:
January 2025: Dr. Robert Mayo wrote a policy paper titled “North Dakota Natural Gas Can Power the Artificial Intelligence Revolution”. In it, Dr. Mayo encourages state leadership to:
“Increase funding to the North Dakota Pipeline Authority Capacity Purchase Program to facilitate construction of a west to east natural gas pipeline”
“Reduce Site Permitting Risk” by “Encourage[ing] the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to accelerate production of a go/по go map for large scale industrial development and to specifically include data centers.”
“Clarify the Sales Tax Exemption for Data Center Equipment” because “a minor change in the exemption language to clarify this point in the affirmative would provide an additional incentive for investment."
2025 Legislative Session: $50 million/year for ten years is appropriated to build a natural gas pipeline.
April 29, 2026: The Industrial Commission, including Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring, invested $500 million into the Bakken East natural gas pipeline.
August 26, 2026: ND Monitor reports that “Data centers in North Dakota received $65 million in sales tax breaks in 2025.
August 31, 2026: Dr. Mayo presents to the AI and Data Center Interim Committee the benefits of data centers.
September 3, 2026: Geronimo Power cites Bakken East Pipeline for motivation to purchase land west of Fargo.
September 4, 2026: NDSU will host a closely guarded webinar called “Data Centers 101: Why Here, Why Now?” to discuss potential roles for Extension professionals in data center outreach.
October 14, 2026: Ag Commissioner Goehring and Dr. Mayo will be panelists on an NDSU data center symposium, “Powering the AI Economy, Data Centers and North Dakota’s Future”.
Is all of this coincidence?
“I gave an interview earlier today stating that the Bakken East Pipeline natural gas will be going to data centers instead of farmers and rural communities because Ag Commissioner Doug Goehring and the Industrial Commission voted to invest $500 million into the project, no strings attached. Commissioner Goehring has been working for the corporate interests. Why couldn’t we use this natural gas for value added ag, fertilizer production, grain drying on family farms, or heating homes? I will be an advocate for family farmers, ranchers, and communities.” - Vern Thompson
“How long has our leadership been planning this, and why didn’t the citizens know?” - Vern Thompson
“Why are we giving $65 million of tax breaks to data center developers when the people could use that money? No more corporate welfare.” - Vern Thompson
“Here is another example of prime agricultural land going to an out-of-state, billion-dollar corporation to build a data center. I look forward to hearing what the citizens of Cass County decide about this project. Community benefit agreements and a decommissioning and reclamation plan are critical for the developer and local officials to sign before any permits are given. All industrial projects that impact North Dakotans need to be transparent. The people have a right to know” - Vern Thompson
Stay tuned for a Thompson4ND announcement on a Data Center Forum in Fargo.
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. The Agriculture Commissioner serves on the Industrial Commission, which shapes industrial development in North Dakota. 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