WEST FARGO, N.D. – Civic West will host a public community discussion titled “If a data center knocks: What should West Fargo do?” on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the West Fargo Fire Department. The event, which begins at 7 p.m. as part of the nonprofit’s monthly Fire Hall Chat series, aims to educate residents and gather public input before local leaders consider any future data center proposals.
The initiative comes as Applied Digital actively develops a data center facility in nearby Harwood. Organizers designed the forum to give West Fargo residents a platform to learn about data centers and share their perspectives with city officials early in the process.
Dr. Dennis Cooley, director of the NDSU Northern Plains Ethics Institute, will moderate a panel featuring local experts, industry leaders, and community members. Panelists include:
- Dr. Anne Denton, NDSU computer science professor researching the pros and cons of data centers
- Paul Matthys, president and CEO of Cass County Electric Cooperative
- Matthew Marshall, manager of member services, rates, and economic development for Minnkota Power Cooperative
- Michael Swartz, Harwood resident and senior software developer
- Martin Vega, Jr., director of community operations for Applied Digital
West Fargo Mayor Eric Gjerdevig will deliver closing comments at the gathering. The program is free and open to the public at 1201 10th Ave. E., supporting Civic West’s mission to foster resident engagement and information sharing across the city.
