Applied Digital AI campus near Toronto
Also called: Applied Digital Deuel County
Applied Digital, which runs big AI data centers in North Dakota, planned a large campus near Toronto. After state lawmakers turned down tax breaks, the company said it will not go ahead for now. It could come back later.
Where things stand: In April 2026 the company said the project 'doesn't make sense at this time' and it would let its land deal lapse.
🕒 Latest update (April 2, 2026): After lawmakers rejected tax breaks, the company said the $5 billion, 430 MW plan doesn't make sense now and it will let the land agreement lapse. It may look again after the elections.
What we know
- 📍 Whererural land near the town of Toronto (exact site not public), unknown, Deuel County
- 🏢 CompanyApplied Digital
- ⚡ Power it needs430 megawatts (about as much as 344,000 homes)
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromNear Otter Tail Power lines and the gas plant at Astoria
- 💵 Cost$5 billion
- 💸 Tax breaksCompany said the project needed a state sales tax break on equipment. Lawmakers rejected it in 2025 and 2026.
- 👷 Jobs promised200
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Has the land agreement near Toronto actually ended? 🙋 I'll find out
- Will Applied Digital come back after the 2026 elections? 🙋 I'll find out
- Has Deuel County adopted zoning rules for data centers? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- May 2025Company said it wants to build near Toronto; total investment could top $16 billion with about 200 jobs, if the state passes a tax break.
- April 2, 2026After lawmakers rejected tax breaks, the company said the $5 billion, 430 MW plan doesn't make sense now and it will let the land agreement lapse. It may look again after the elections.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- New AI data center wave could transform rural South Dakota, advocates say · SDPB · May 27, 2025
- One data center project 'unchanged' while another 'doesn't make sense' after rejected incentives · South Dakota Searchlight · April 2, 2026
- Deuel County no-go (republishes the South Dakota Searchlight article) · Bluestem Prairie · April 2, 2026
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