This bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to expand the regulatory authority of the public service commission to include data centers, alongside existing regulations for energy conversion and transmission facilities. Key amendments involve the insertion of "data centers" into definitions and requirements for site compatibility and route permits, stipulating that no data center may be constructed or operated without the necessary certification. The bill also introduces a definition for "data center," describing it as a structure primarily for processing, storing, and transmitting digital information. Additionally, the application process for obtaining a certificate of site compatibility or a route permit now includes specific requirements related to data centers, such as environmental impact studies and a comprehensive analysis of the proposed site or corridor.

Further provisions in the bill require applicants to notify landowners within the proposed site or corridor and allow for combined applications from utilities or data centers. The commission is prohibited from conditioning the issuance of certificates or permits on mitigation payments requested by other state agencies for wildlife habitat impacts. The legislation also mandates compliance with safety standards and allows for temporary operations or variances under certain conditions. Specific application fees based on investment amounts for data centers are introduced to help the commission recover expenses related to the siting process. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the application process for data centers while ensuring that environmental and community considerations are adequately addressed.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 49-22-02, 49-22-03, 49-22-07, 49-22-07.2, 49-22-08, 49-22-08.2, 49-22-09, 49-22-09.2, 49-22-14, 49-22-16, 49-22-20, 49-22-21, 49-22-22, 49-22-24, 49-22-25