In the race to attract the industries of the future, one resource is as critical as talent or technology: energy. North Dakota, long recognized for its agricultural strength and oil production, is positioning itself as a national leader in supplying secure, reliable and affordable energy to power growth in artificial intelligence, data centers and advanced aerospace operations.
“North Dakota has secure, reliable, affordable energy through coal, through oil, through natural gas. And when you’re dealing with AI, you need energy and an abundance of it. Guess what? North Dakota has that,” said
Sen. Scott Meyer, R-Grand Forks
, who also serves as engagement director for GrandSKY.
Natural gas is perhaps the most underutilized part of that equation. It’s often referred to as the Swiss Army knife of energy. And we have a nearly limitless abundance of it. But today, it’s stranded in the Bakken. Long a missed opportunity, it is now the focus of pipeline proposals that would bring it east to fuel growth corridors like Minot, Jamestown and Grand Forks. This infrastructure would power data centers and high-tech facilities while also supporting enhanced oil recovery in the west, boosting production and strengthening the state’s economy from both ends.
GrandSKY, located west of Grand Forks, is home to leading defense and aerospace companies. Its 217-acre campus offers access to military-grade runway infrastructure and more than 11,000 square miles of beyond visual line of sight airspace. Operations such as Project ULTRA’s unmanned logistics flights and large-scale drone testing require advanced facilities and abundant, reliable energy for systems, data processing and secure communications.
GrandSKY is doing its part to help attract new industries to North Dakota. The organization is currently working with potential new manufacturing and data center tenants that will require a significant amount of power every month. These prospects represent exactly the kind of energy-intensive, high-value operations the state aims to anchor within its borders.
State leaders are also courting companies that require constant, high-volume power, including AI firms and energy technology companies. Meyer points to firms like Thread, based at The Hive, which inspects energy infrastructure and develops related software, as proof that energy and technology can intersect to create jobs and economic value.
North Dakota’s pitch is reinforced by quality-of-life factors that appeal to both businesses and workers: high average wages in emerging industries, a safe environment and strong schools. For veterans and professionals relocating from higher-cost states, the combination of career opportunity and community stability makes North Dakota more than just an energy hub. It becomes a place to build a life.
By aligning energy resources, infrastructure and targeted industry recruitment, North Dakota is creating a foundation for long-term growth. GrandSKY illustrates that strategy in action. As Meyer notes, the abundance of reliable power is not a background detail. It is a central reason why these projects can take flight in North Dakota. Energy here is not just about keeping the lights on. It is about fueling the future.
On my statewide radio show, I’m blessed to help tell the story of the world-class ecosystem of Grand Forks County and City, linking the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, University of North Dakota and the growing number of National Defense contractors at GrandSKY. It’s a game-changer for North Dakota.
