Settlement agreements going out to residents by data center next to Williston

WILLISTON, N.D. (KUMV) - Residents who live by the Atlas Power Data Center near Williston are receiving a monetary settlement after complaining about excessive noise. On Friday, attorneys provided an update on that progress.

In 2023, residents filed a lawsuit against the company asking for damages for the noise. They claim it tanked property values and hurt their quality of life.

A settlement was reached two years later. The details are confidential, according to Atlas attorney Doug Daniels.

He told Northwest District Court Judge Kirsten Sjue that deals are being presented to various residents. So far, three are finalized with more to come.

Daniels says just three agreements are still being negotiated.

“I’m confident those will not prolong or delay getting those settlements done because the issues in question are important to the parties, but are not huge. They’re not so material that it could cause those three to blow up,” said Dainels.

The data center continues to operate as normal. The landowners initially looked to the courts to either shut it down or reduce the noise level.