Applied Digital Implements Staged Disclosure Strategy for New 430 MW Datacenter Project

Applied Digital, a company transitioning from cryptocurrency mining to AI infrastructure, has commenced development of a 430-megawatt datacenter complex codenamed Delta Forge 1. While confirming the facility's location in the southern United States, the company has deferred public disclosure of the exact site until February 2026. This staged disclosure strategy responds directly to community engagement challenges encountered during previous projects in North Dakota and Colorado.

Regulatory and Community Context
Applied Digital faced significant public opposition to prior developments, notably in Harwood, North Dakota, where residents raised concerns about noise pollution, utility rate impacts, and land use. Similar community resistance emerged in Ellendale, Colorado. These experiences demonstrated that traditional project announcements overwhelm small municipalities lacking dedicated communications resources. CEO Wes Cummins emphasized the operational necessity: "When dealing with towns of hundreds of people, national media attention becomes overwhelming without proper preparation time."

Compliance Requirements
The company's revised approach mandates:

1. Temporary Location Confidentiality: Withholding geographic disclosure for 30-45 days post-groundbreaking to allow local governments to establish communication protocols
2. Phased Community Engagement: Structured public forums scheduled after location disclosure but before major construction phases
3. Transparency Verification: Commitment to full project documentation release, including environmental impact assessments and utility agreements, prior to operational commissioning
   This methodology addresses Section 106 community consultation requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act while accommodating municipal readiness timelines.

Implementation Timeline

• January 2026: Site preparation begins under temporary nondisclosure agreement
• February 2026: Public location disclosure and commencement of formal community consultation
• Q2 2026: Finalization of tenant agreements (reportedly with an "investment-grade hyperscaler" such as Microsoft, Amazon, or Google)
• Q3 2026-Q1 2027: Primary construction of two 150MW facilities across 500 acres
• Mid-2027: Targeted operational launch with projected 200+ permanent staff

The Delta Forge 1 project exemplifies the industry's pivot toward proactive community relations frameworks. Companies developing large-scale infrastructure in rural areas must now integrate municipal capacity assessments into project timelines, particularly following FTC guidance on corporate transparency in energy-intensive developments. Applied Digital's staged approach establishes a precedent for balancing rapid deployment with regulatory obligations to host communities.