Applied Digital Announces 250MW AI Data Center Lease With CoreWeave in North Dakota
Under the lease agreements, Applied Digital will deliver 250 megawatts (MW) of critical IT load to host CoreWeave's artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure at its Ellendale, North Dakota data center campus. Over the approximately 15-year term, Applied Digital anticipates generating approximately $7 billion in total revenue from the leases.
Pursuant to the lease agreements, CoreWeave also retains the option to access an additional 150 MW of critical IT load at Ellendale, positioning the campus as a scalable hub for expanding AI and HPC workloads. 'We believe these leases solidify Applied Digital's position as an emerging provider of infrastructure critical to the next generation of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing,' said Wes Cummins, Chairman and CEO of Applied Digital. 'As demand for AI accelerates exponentially, we believe that we are uniquely positioned to deliver substantial returns while supporting the evolving and dynamic needs of these rapidly evolving sectors. We view CoreWeave as an ideal partner as we accelerate our growth and innovation.'
Applied Digital's Ellendale campus is believed to be one of the most ambitious data center developments currently underway in North America. Intended to be purpose-built for next-generation workloads, the facility combines large-scale power capacity with rapid deployment capabilities – both critical for AI and HPC clients.
The Ellendale campus was planned to be engineered for high-density compute and designed to scale up to 1 gigawatt over time. The two approximately 15-year lease agreements mark a foundational step in unlocking the campus's full potential.
'We believe Ellendale is more than a development project — it's a launchpad for the future of AI infrastructure,' added Cummins. 'We intend for this platform to put us in a strong position to support early demand while continuing to grow alongside our customers. Through these newly signed long-term leases with CoreWeave, we are taking a step forward in our strategic expansion into advanced compute infrastructure.'
Applied Digital designed Ellendale for the speed and efficiency of deployment, prime location, AI innovative design, and access to abundant, low-cost energy. The energy-efficient climate is intended to further enable Applied Digital to meet the rapid capacity demands, positioning both the region and the company as emerging leaders in the AI data center ecosystem. Applied Digital expects the first 100 MW data center for CoreWeave to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of calendar 2025. The second building, which is expected to house a 150 MW data center, is currently under construction and is expected to be ready for service in the middle of 2026. Additionally, CoreWeave holds an option for the third 150 MW building, which is currently in the planning stages, anticipated to be ready for service in 2027.
Applied Digital's Ellendale campus is designed to host 400 MW of critical IT load. Ellendale has 1+ gigawatts of power capacity currently under various stages of load study, allowing the campus to expand its power capacity to support additional AI and HPC data center infrastructure development.
About Applied DigitalApplied Digital (Nasdaq: APLD) develops, builds and operates next-generation data centers and infrastructure. Different by design, the Company's purpose-built facilities are engineered to unleash the power of accelerated compute and deliver secure, scalable and sustainable digital hosting, enabling CSaaS and GPU-as-a-Service solutions. Backed by deep hyperscale expertise and a robust pipeline of available power, Applied Digital accommodates AI Factories and beyond to support AI/ML, blockchain and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis press release contains 'forward-looking statements' as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, future operating and financial performance, product development, market position, business strategy and objectives and future financing plans. These statements use words, and variations of words, such as 'will,' 'continue,' 'build,' 'future,' 'increase,' 'drive,' 'believe,' 'look,' 'ahead,' 'confident,' 'deliver,' 'outlook,' 'expect,' 'project' and 'predict.' Other examples of forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, (i) statements that reflect perspectives and expectations regarding the lease agreements and campus development, (ii) statements about the HPC industry, (iii) statements of Company plans and objectives, including our evolving business model, or estimates or predictions of actions by suppliers, (iv) statements of future economic performance, and (v) statements of assumptions underlying other statements and statements about the Company or its business. You are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events and thus are inherently subject to uncertainty. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the Company's expectations and projections. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include: our ability to complete construction of the Ellendale HPC data centers; changes to AI and HPC infrastructure needs and their impact on future plans; risks associated with the leasing business, including those associated with counterparties; costs related to the HPC operations and strategy; our ability to timely deliver any services required in connection with completion of installation under the lease agreements; our ability to raise additional capital to fund ongoing and future data center construction and operations; our ability to obtain financing of the lease agreements on acceptable financing terms, or at all; our dependence on principal customers, including our ability to execute and perform our obligations under our leases with key customers, including without limitation, the lease agreements; our ability to timely and successfully build hosting facilities with the appropriate contractual margins and efficiencies; power or other supply disruptions and equipment failures; the inability to comply with regulations, developments and changes in regulations; cash flow and access to capital; availability of financing to continue to grow our business; decline in demand for our products and services; maintenance of third party relationships; and conditions in the debt and equity capital markets. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including in the sections captioned 'Forward-Looking Statements' and 'Risk Factors,' and in the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, on the Company's website (www.applieddigital.com) under 'Investors,' or on request from the Company. Information in this release is as of the dates and time periods indicated herein, and the Company does not undertake to update any of the information contained in these materials, except as required by law.
Media ContactsBuffy Harakidas and Jo AlbersJSA (Jaymie Scotto & Associates)jsa_applied@jsa.net
Investor Relations ContactsMatt Glover or Ralf EsperGateway Group, Inc.(949) 574-3860APLD@gateway-grp.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4bba31cc-5279-4ef8-9a82-1cb0b4a7069f
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
23 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Zonar Ignition ™ Fleet Operations Platform Launches Integration-Ready Platform with Real-Time Analytics
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zonar, a leader in commercial vehicle fleet health and safety, today announced the launch of Zonar Ignition ™, a next-generation cloud-based fleet management platform designed to replace the industry's fragmented legacy systems with unified, real-time insights. Coming nine months after Zonar's merger with GPS Trackit, Ignition reflects the company's accelerated pace of innovation and focus on delivering joint value to customers. "With Ignition, we've brought together the best of Zonar and GPS Trackit to give fleets a single window into unified workflows and manage all aspects of vehicles, drivers and assets," said Charles Kriete, CEO, Zonar. Share Zonar Ignition helps fleets maximize uptime, reduce costs and respond to challenges faster through three core features that define a modern fleet management platform: Integration-Ready: Built on a flexible framework, the cloud-based Ignition platform seamlessly integrates Zonar data with third-party data sources. An open API combined with the ability to build sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) modules, Zonar provides its customers with a more customizable and efficient experience. One Screen, Total Control: Ignition consolidates and displays all crucial fleet and third-party data on one screen. A single-pane-of-glass view allows operators to assess the status of vehicles, drivers, and assets in real time on a single high-resolution map, rather than navigating through tabs to collect insights to make data-driven decisions. Actionable Insights, Real-Time Results: Through Zonar's market-leading hardware, Ignition aggregates data from its TCU hardware, compliance solutions, driver behavior monitoring systems and third-party systems into personalized reports. Interactive dashboards surface key performance indicators, including fuel usage, route efficiency and safety events, and enable drill-downs that drive continuous operational improvements. More than 30 detailed reports and personalized dashboards are available. From real-time KPIs and granular driver and vehicle data, to live alerts on speeding, idling, or off-route activity, Ignition diagnostics help improve safety and efficiency while increasing uptime with scheduled maintenance and preemptive alerts. "Whether it's a school bus, sanitation truck or specialized utility vehicle, for too long fleet managers have had to choose between clunky workflows or unreliable data when managing drivers, vehicles and other critical business assets," said Charles Kriete, CEO, Zonar. "We saw a clear need for something faster, smarter and more efficient. With Ignition, we've brought together the best of Zonar and GPS Trackit to give fleets a single window into unified workflows and manage all aspects of vehicles, drivers and assets. This approach helps derisk operations and delivers actionable analytics through actionable intelligence. This platform is not just for our current customers, but for any fleet looking for a better, more connected way to run their operations.' The launch of Zonar Ignition underscores the company's role as both a trusted partner and an innovator in fleet technology. A pivotal step in Zonar's ongoing mission to help fleets operate at their highest potential, Ignition's platform is designed to meet today's operational demands and evolve with future transportation challenges. The first major milestone since Zonar's merger with GPS Trackit on December 3, 2024, Zonar Ignition signals the combined company's ability to innovate quickly and deliver value at scale. By uniting Zonar's telematics expertise with GPS Trackit's scalable platform, the company is accelerating cloud-based fleet visibility, analytics, and AI-driven insights. Ignition also integrates with Zonar's proprietary technologies, including EVIR® for electronic inspections, CARB tools for emissions compliance, Z Pass™ for student rider visibility, and Zonar Coach™ for driver safety coaching, giving fleets a single platform to optimize operations, improve safety, and reduce costs. For the latest updates and announcements, follow Zonar on LinkedIn. About Zonar Zonar ( is the trusted leader in proven fleet management solutions for pupil transportation, small- to mid-sized businesses, enterprise fleets, and public sector organizations across the Americas. The Zonar mission is to stand by its customers as a partner to ensure fleets run better, safer and more efficiently. Whatever the fleet size, customers rely on Zonar to help solve real-word problems. Headquartered in Seattle, Zonar has been delivering fleet management solutions to its customers for more than 20 years. Zonar has operations in West Chicago and Cincinnati. Available 24/7, reach Zonar at info@ or (877) 843-3847.
Fast Company
23 minutes ago
- Fast Company
AI is leveling the playing field for neurodivergent talent
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked conversations about job loss and identity. Roles are shifting, systems are evolving, and many wonder where people will fit. For neurodivergent individuals, though, AI can offer something else entirely. It is not a threat to their value, but a tool that helps reveal it. For those whose brains process information differently, AI can reduce the friction of daily tasks. It makes the world a little easier to navigate. When routine obstacles are removed, creativity and insight have more room to surface. The point is not to change how someone thinks, but to stop asking them to hide how they think in order to participate. I've experienced this myself. I grew up with dyslexia and a rare bone disease that kept me in a wheelchair throughout my childhood. The systems around me were rarely designed with my needs in mind. I was told that I would fall behind, and sometimes I did. But not because I lacked intelligence. I simply experienced the world in a different way. Over time, I learned to adapt. I found ways to approach problems creatively and built a career by thinking differently. Still, it wasn't until I began using AI tools in my daily work that I felt a sense of ease. Spellcheckers catch what I miss. Planning tools help me stay organized. Summarizers bring structure to my ideas. These tools don't replace my thinking, they make it more accessible to myself and to others. And when the right supports are in place, what becomes possible begins to shift for everyone. THE UNIQUE POWER OF NEURODIVERGENT MINDS This kind of support opens up new possibilities, not just for individuals but for organizations. Neurodivergent professionals often bring skills that are hard to teach. They recognize patterns, challenge assumptions, and approach complex problems from unexpected angles. As automation takes over repetitive tasks, these strengths are becoming even more valuable. Historically, though, workplaces have not been built to support this kind of contribution. Expectations have favored conformity over creativity. That is beginning to change. Partnerships like the one between Vanderbilt University and AllianceBernstein are showing what happens when we invest in cognitive diversity. Their research confirms what many of us have lived. When neurodivergent individuals are supported, they do more than fit in. They help move things forward. But when it comes to AI, we still need to understand its limits. It can process data and manage logistics, but it is limited in its ability to sense context in complex situations and generate the kind of deep, meaningful, and holistic conclusions that humans can. It does not imagine what could be. It waits to be told what to do. This is where neurodivergent minds shine. They are often at their best when structure breaks down. They bring innovation, ethical sensitivity, and imagination. These are the kinds of insights that AI cannot replicate. WHY SUPPORT MUST GO BEYOND TOOLS Still, understanding the language we use is only part of the picture. The environments we build matter just as much. The term neurodiverse describes the range of thinking styles in any group. Neurodivergent refers to individuals who think in ways that diverge from cultural expectations. Autism, ADHD, and dyslexia are all part of this category. We are all part of neurodiversity, but not all of us are neurodivergent. That distinction matters because it helps us move from vague inclusion to intentional design. Even in forward-thinking workplaces, many neurodivergent professionals still struggle in silence. Fast meetings, noisy spaces, and unspoken rules make it difficult to fully participate. Often, people hesitate to ask for accommodations, even when those changes would help them thrive. SUPPORT ISN'T AN EXCEPTION—IT'S JUST GOOD DESIGN A report from The Washington Post offers practical strategies to address this. It emphasizes that supporting neurodivergent professionals isn't about changing the individual, but about changing the environment. From quiet rooms to clear communication practices, small shifts can make a big difference. Research backs this up. Seventy percent of neurodivergent employees report feeling uncomfortable asking for support. That is not because they don't need it. It is because our systems still frame accommodations as exceptions instead of thoughtful design. Organizations can shift this dynamic by planning for difference from the start. NHS Employers has found that giving people more control over how and where they work leads to better outcomes for everyone. When we support one group well, we often make things better for all. These are not perks. They are proof that good design serves people. AI won't solve every challenge, but it can be a catalyst for unlocking human potential. It takes on the mental load that can block access to opportunity. It helps make space for difference without asking people to flatten themselves to fit in. That is a powerful beginning. The future of work will not be defined by how much we can automate. It will be shaped by how deeply we choose to value the minds that machines will never replace.
Forbes
24 minutes ago
- Forbes
Open-Source Leadership: What's Really At Stake
Kevin Dominik Korte: IT Innovation Strategist, Board Member. Expert in identity management, AI and open-source solutions. The open-source software movement has long been a symbol of global collaboration, transparency and shared progress. Yet, as China rapidly ascends to a leadership position in open source, especially in AI and critical infrastructure, worries in the West are mounting. It's a pivotal moment. While these broad concerns rightfully resonate with the public, politicians and the enterprise community, it's important not to be worried for the wrong reasons. We can't lose sight of what really is at stake here: the very real risks associated with technological dependence, security vulnerabilities and the shifting balance of digital power. If the West wishes to maintain its influence over the future of digital infrastructure and uphold the values that made open source so powerful, it must respond to China's challenge not with fear, but with more resounding and strategic involvement in open-source development. Squaring Security, Sovereignty And Geopolitics China's open-source surge is no accident. It's a calculated response to Western export controls and a strategic move aimed at reducing dependence on foreign technology. Chinese tech giants, such as Alibaba, Baidu and Huawei, have become prolific contributors to open-source projects, and China now produces a significant share of the world's leading open-source AI models. This shift has enabled China to scale innovation rapidly and integrate itself within the global technology ecosystem, in the process becoming a force to be reckoned with. However, the risks extend beyond technological competition heating up and China building a leading position. Analysts have observed that some Chinese open-source large language models (LLMs) and code libraries may contain security exploits or biases that could be used for surveillance, manipulation or even the export of controlled narratives beyond the Chinese state. Often, these risks are subtle. They hide within the complexity of software and AI models. As such, it's difficult to detect them post-factum—and even more challenging to eliminate them once end-users and companies have deployed those models. There's more at stake here than mitigating inherent technological risks. The future of open-source development raises fundamental questions about trust, accountability and digital sovereignty. If non-transparent or potentially adversarial actors shape the tools that underpin government, finance and public life, the integrity of those systems is at risk. Open source, when led by transparent and accountable communities, offers a path to digital autonomy and resilience. For example, CLIMADA is a free, open-source software framework that enables climate risk assessment and appraisal of adaptation options, helping researchers, policymakers and businesses analyze the impacts of natural hazards and explore adaptation strategies. Thus, it enables us to evaluate climate risks transparently, without fear or political interference. But if actors with different priorities take the lead, the very openness of the ecosystem can become a key vulnerability. Suddenly, open source will be only driven by the software being free, as in 'free' beer. Not by the desire to promote its freedom from undue influences, be they commercial, political or both. Heeding The Innovation Imperative Open source thrives on the inclusivity of different thoughts, code transparency and the meritocratic evaluation of contributions. For users, open-source software has democratized access to computers, enhanced privacy and provided us with powerful AI tools. Yet, relative underinvestment in open-source AI and critical infrastructure, driven by fear and by a search for short-term profits, has created an opening for others to set standards, shape ecosystems and define the direction of future technologies. If this trend continues, Western nations risk becoming consumers, rather than creators, of the next generation of digital tools. Losing the leadership position is not just about prestige and control. Open-source projects often wield a different, more substantial type of influence over technical standards, security protocols and even the ethical frameworks that govern the use of technology. Moreover, the fragmentation of the open-source community along geopolitical lines, driven by techno-nationalism and export controls, threatens the collaborative spirit that made open-source successful in the first place. If Western companies and governments retreat from global projects out of fear or mistrust, the ecosystem could splinter, reducing innovation and creating regional silos that are less secure and less robust. Building A Resilient, Inclusive And Secure Open-Source Future To address these challenges, Western tech companies must not only participate in open-source projects. Funding and leadership for critical projects, such as the Cloud Native Computing Foundation's Harbor, must represent its global user base. Diverse leadership enables us to establish high standards for transparency, security and ethical conduct. We must invest in local talent, support foundational projects and create incentives for sustained contributions and maintenance. It also requires governments and industry to collaborate in ensuring that open-source software remains a tool for empowerment rather than control. Transparency and explainability must become core principles, especially in AI. For this, we need rigorous audits, open governance models and shared codes of conduct that help build trust and accountability across borders. By fostering a diverse and inclusive community, open source projects can attract the talent and ideas needed to keep them vibrant and secure. Already, strategic investment in open-source infrastructure ensures that critical systems remain under democratic control and are not subject to the whims of foreign actors or commercial interests. Approaches such as the EU's Sovereign Tech Fund strengthen digital sovereignty and reinforce the social contract that underpins the open-source movement. We should not retreat into proprietary silos or walled-off and therefore subpar collaboration. Instead, we must renew engagement, investment and leadership. We must double down on the values that made open source a driver of global progress, transparency, inclusivity and shared innovation. Only then can we ensure that the digital future remains open, secure and aligned with democratic principles. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
