Applied Digital, once a cryptocurrency mining company, is now pivoting towards AI infrastructure. The company has started construction on a 430 MW data center in the southern United States, choosing to keep the exact site under wraps. This decision is to allow the local community to prepare for national media interest. Applied Digital has faced resistance previously with projects in North Dakota, which met with local opposition due to concerns like noise and infrastructure strain.
CEO Wes Cummins emphasized that the secrecy is more about protecting small towns from overwhelming publicity than corporate strategy. The company plans to reveal the precise location in the coming months, with expectations that the public will be fully informed and engaged.
This new site, dubbed ‘Delta Forge 1’, follows their tradition of naming facilities after foundries. It will span 500 acres and is set to provide numerous jobs once complete in mid-2027.
Applied Digital is close to inking deals with high-profile tech firms for the site, reflecting a broader shift from cryptocurrency to supporting AI and other advanced technology systems.