McKenzie County Farmer - Latest News

Steve Hallstrom
Special to The Farmer

(Oklahoma City, OK) - The future of technology is evolving rapidly, and the state of North Dakota is in perfect position to fuel its growth. These words coming from Dr. Ryan Adams, Dean of the College of Engineering and Mines at the University of North Dakota (UND), attending the Hamm Institute for American Energy’s conference at Oklahoma State University.

The conference brought some of the biggest names in technology and energy together where industry leaders, policymakers, and academics gathered to address a pressing issue; powering the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution in the United States. The conference, focused on energy sources for AI, provided an opportunity for Adams to reflect on UND’s cutting-edge work in energy, AI, and infrastructure, while underscoring the regulatory and supply chain hurdles that threaten to slow progress.

Adams, whose college is deeply engaged in oil, gas, coal, rare earth elements, and power distribution, emphasized the critical intersection of energy and AI.

“Everything comes together in the College of Engineering and Mines,” he said, highlighting UND’s partnerships with industry giants like NVIDIA and regional power companies like Minnkota Power. These collaborations position UND as a key contributor in addressing the energy demands of AI data centers, which are sprouting across the U.S. at an unprecedented pace.

The conference gave significant attention to regulatory reform, a topic Adams identified as a massive key to progress.
“AI data centers can be built far faster than the infrastructure necessary to get power to them, especially in rural states like North Dakota,” he noted.

This challenge is not abstract for Adams; it’s personal. UND’s own data center, used for advanced AI modeling, is struggling to secure the power upgrades needed to keep pace with demand. “That’s a microcosm of the bigger picture,” he said, pointing to the broader supply chain and regulatory bottlenecks hampering the industry.

When pressed on specific regulatory reforms, Adams focused on two key areas.
First, he called for streamlined regulations around oil and gas extraction, particularly addressing the issue of flared gas in western North Dakota, where excess natural gas is often burned off due to regulatory and infrastructure constraints.
“Some of the regulations that we’re seeing, it’s just the ability to drill and pump oil out of the ground. Some of the other regulatory issues that we’re seeing have to do with natural gas and the flare gas issue, of course, that’s well known in the western part of the state. There’s a lot of regulations that go into that. And when we propose changes, there’s a lot of discussion and a lot of analysis that has to happen. And we really need to get those things fixed.”

Second, he highlighted the need for regulatory changes to support mining and manufacturing.
“The secondary piece is sort of up into the mid-range. How do we get enough of the large turbines we need? How do we get all the chilling fields and power cabling and all of those kinds of things? That starts very, very early. A lot of copper is needed. A lot of other technologies are needed. That means mining is necessary. So, there’s regulatory reform all the way up the chain so that we can get the cabling we need so that we can get things installed and working the way we need it.”

Adams also offered insights into the evolving landscape of data centers, challenging the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach. “Different data centers for different purposes are the most efficient way to do it,” he explained. Some are compact and highly specialized, while others are sprawling facilities designed for massive computational tasks.

This diversity reflects the multifaceted nature of AI itself. While large language models like ChatGPT have captured public attention, Adams stressed that AI encompasses a broader range of applications, from optimizing power distribution to enhancing cybersecurity and healthcare. “We need models dedicated to specific purposes,” he said, noting that UND is developing AI tools to design power systems for data centers - a task that requires tailored, not generic, solutions.

North Dakota, with its rich energy resources, is poised to play a pivotal role in this transformation. Adams highlighted the state’s diverse energy portfolio, which includes oil, natural gas, coal, and wind power. “North Dakota is one of the major players,” he said, advocating for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy to meet the soaring demand for reliable, consistent power. He envisioned new data centers springing up across the state, leveraging local energy resources to demonstrate North Dakota’s leadership. “That’s not just a ‘tell me’- that’s a ‘show me,’” he said, confident in the state’s ability to deliver.

The conference wasn’t Adams’ only recent engagement with high-stakes innovation. Just days earlier, UND hosted Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, the Vice Chief of Space Operations of the United States Space Force and Dr. Derek Tournear, Director of the Space Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Defense. The visits showcased the university’s growing role in space technology.
Adams described the visits as a “great opportunity” to demonstrate UND’s capabilities in optical communication - a critical technology for the Space Development Agency’s satellite constellation, which relies on laser-based interconnects rather than traditional radio frequencies. “The challenge with lasers is the slightest movement causes you to miss the target,” Adams explained, detailing UND’s efforts to develop reliable, secure optical communication systems using unmanned aircraft. This work, he said, could pave the way for breakthroughs in space and terrestrial applications alike.

The Space Force visit also underscored UND’s broader mission to prepare students for a rapidly changing technological landscape. Adams, reflecting on the opportunities for young people, noted that engineering is just one of many pathways into the AI and space revolutions. “We don’t try to train students for their first job; we train them for a career,” he said. The arrival of defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and General Atomics in North Dakota further amplifies these opportunities, creating demand for everything from unmanned aircraft operators to air traffic controllers.

“The world has changed in 10 years,” Adams said, encouraging students who might not initially consider engineering to explore the technological revolution. “There are lots of opportunities for every one of our students in the region and in the world.”
The Trump administration demonstrated its commitment to the event, as four different cabinet secretaries attended the conference, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota.

The panelists and administration members all echoed the same message; the AI revolution is inseparable from the energy that fuels it, and overcoming regulatory and supply chain challenges is essential to sustaining progress. North Dakota, with its energy wealth and academic leadership, stands ready to lead the charge. “None of this happens without power,” Adams said, a reminder that the future of AI hinges on the ability to deliver reliable, scalable energy solutions.

 Visit www.watfordcitynd.com and subscribe to the McKenzie County Farmer today!