Data centers are becoming a bigger topic across the country, and Bismarck-Mandan is part of that conversation.
A data center is a large facility that houses computer servers and other technology. These facilities can require significant amounts of electricity, water, and infrastructure, which is why communities are increasingly looking at how they should be regulated.
What is happening locally?
Bismarck has adopted new regulations addressing data centers as part of its new Land Development Code, which takes effect October 1, 2026. The code establishes different categories for major, minor, and micro data centers and includes requirements related to zoning, site plans, landscaping and buffering. Major data centers generally require a special use permit in the industrial district. Applications must also provide information about electrical capacity, cooling methods, traffic, construction phasing and wastewater.
Mandan has also been working on specific data-center regulations. The city released a revised draft ordinance in August as part of its larger zoning-code rewrite. The proposed regulations address issues associated with land use, infrastructure, utilities, traffic, and neighboring properties.
Mandan's Planning & Zoning Commission subsequently recommended moving the ordinance forward with amendments, including tighter noise limits, additional monitoring and a requirement for PFAS-free coolants. The amended ordinance was then forwarded to the Mandan City Commission for consideration.
The national conversation: Who pays for the power?
The discussion isn't limited to local zoning.
On September 16, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act, H.R. 9340, by a 417-3 vote. The bill addresses the electricity costs associated with very large electricity users, including data centers.
The legislation would have state utility regulators consider standards under which large-load customers would cover the incremental costs of new generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure needed to serve them. The bill defines a covered large-load customer as a nonresidential customer primarily using electricity for information technology infrastructure, such as data storage and computing, with peak demand of at least 100 megawatts at a single site or campus.
The bill still preserves state authority over electricity regulation. In other words, its passage does not automatically change electric rates in Bismarck-Mandan. It establishes a federal standard for states and regulators to consider.
Why does this matter to homeowners?
For homeowners, the discussion goes beyond whether a data center is built nearby.
Questions about noise, traffic, water use, land use, infrastructure, and electricity costs can all become part of the conversation when large-scale technology projects are proposed.
At the same time, communities and developers may also consider potential economic benefits, including construction activity, jobs, investment, and additional tax revenue.
For Bismarck-Mandan, the new and proposed regulations are an attempt to establish clearer rules for where and how these facilities can be developed.
As data-center development continues to evolve, it's something we'll be watching because land use, infrastructure, and development decisions can ultimately affect the communities and neighborhoods where we live.
Local residents are not simply spectators in that process. Public hearings, written comments, meetings, and direct communication with local officials provide opportunities for citizens to make their views known and participate in decisions that can affect their neighborhoods and community.