HARWOOD, N.D. — The mayors of Harwood and Fargo signed confidentiality agreements with a Texas company that plans to build a nearby controversial artificial intelligence data center.

Fargo's mayor also questioned whether the project is being rushed without gathering enough input from locals.

The Forum obtained through an open records request an Applied Digital confidentiality agreement signed July 9 by Harwood Mayor Blake Hankey. He is the only Harwood City Council member who signed the document, said Nick Phillips, executive vice president of external affairs for Applied Digital.

Hankey, who is a criminal defense attorney, did not return messages left by The Forum.

On Aug. 18, Applied Digital announced plans for a $3 billion AI data center between Harwood and Fargo, east of Interst

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