A World Class Data Center Will Be Built in Williams County As Big Data Continues To Go All in on North Dakota

Williston, ND (KEYZ) - Governor Burgum, along with Mountrail-Electric, and Atlas Power LLC., today announced the construction of one of the largest data centers in the world in Williams County as North Dakota continues to emerge as a hub for high-performance computing, including cryptocurrency mining.

The Atlas Power Data Center is part of a $1.9 billion, multiyear project that will require more than 100 workers during the two-year construction, and will create more than 30 permanent jobs.

The first phase of the project will consist of 16 buildings, each 350 feet long by 30 feet wide, to house tens of thousands of servers that will conduct high-performance computing using 240 megawatts of electricity. Phases 2 and 3 call for expanding to 500 megawatts and then 700 megawatts, adding additional buildings and servers.

“This major investment in North Dakota will further cement our state’s growing reputation as a hub for data centers and cryptocurrency mining, thanks to our incredibly reliable, affordable and redundant power supply and a climate that lowers cooling costs for data center operations." Governor Doug Burgum. "With our all-of-the-above energy approach and nation-leading efforts in carbon capture, utilization and storage, we are well-positioned to support data centers and other energy-intensive industries with environmental stewardship while attracting high-paying jobs and diversifying our economy.”

Atlas Power, which operates facilities that engage in cryptocurrency mining and high-performance computing utilizing alternative power generation, will own and operate the data center following its completion.

“Building on the success of our Butte, Montana location, Phase One of the Williston site alone will become Atlas’s largest center of operations, while also ensuring we draw on a diversified mix of alternative power sources. As a company with strong Mountain West roots, we applaud the Governor’s efforts to support the growth of North Dakota’s crypto sector and are pleased to bring new tech-sector jobs to the region.” Atlas Power Founder and President Kevin Washington

An electrical substation, powered by Mountrail-Williams Electric Cooperative is already built near the data center with available capacity. Earlier this month, groundwork began in phase one of the project, at a 77-acre site west of Williston. To ensure construction continues through the winter months, a 100-by-400-foot inflatable dome will be erected.