DATA CENTERS

TWO-YEAR PAUSE ON DATA CENTERS IN MONTANA: WRITE THE RULEBOOK FIRST

Over the past year, data center developers from all over the country have rushed to Montana, wanting to build their next big project right here in Big Sky Country. The impacts that these projects would have on our communities are serious, and not only are local people getting left out of the conversations, but the developers don’t have any rules they have to follow. Local control policies have been weakened, low tax rates have been granted, and natural resource protection seems optional. Our state needs to press pause on all of this development so we can write a rulebook that actually protects this place we love and makes it easier for everyday Montanans to live here, not just wealthy corporations.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN THE WORK TO PROTECT MONTANA

Local teams of people are organizing in their community, and we’d love for you to be part of the team in your town. It’s going to take a lot of organized people to push back and protect our state against the wealthy corporations that are working hard to push data centers onto communities.

If you want to join our effort to pause all this hyperscale data center development in Montana and get strict rules and protections in place that put Montana residents as the top priority, click the button below and let us know.

WHAT ARE DATA CENTERS ANYHOW?

A data center is a giant warehouse that houses a ton of computers, servers, and other networking equipment that run around the clock. In other words, the type of equipment that runs “the cloud.” These warehouses store data that help run everything from streaming services to social media.

It is important to know that data centers have been around for a long time. But they have been much smaller, way less resource intensive, and have stayed out-of-sight from the public. The data centers that are currently being talked about and organized against by communities across the country flip all those characteristics on their head.

Because of the surge in demand for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other computing technology, data center projects have become remarkably larger in scale (one project in MT is proposed to be over 5,000 acres) and incredibly more resource-intensive due to the water needed to keep the computers cool and the energy needed to run them.

Quantica has announced a 5,000 acre data center, called the “Big Sky Campus,” and is slated to begin Phase I construction in 2026 near Broadview, MT. The site advertises a mix of power from NWE with large-scale on-site solar, wind, and battery storage for Phase 1 zero-carbon, resiliency (Rendering by Big Sky Digital Infrastructure).

WHY THE SUDDEN DATA CENTER BOOM?

The United States is going through a rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) technology right now. Four of the biggest AI companies – Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta – have poured wild amounts of money into the AI world. Nvidia, considered an industryleader in the AI world, recently made a $100 billion deal with OpenAI (Chat GPT maker) in 2025. Microsoft announced plans to invest around $80 billion in data center development in 2025. The parent companies of Meta (Facebook’s parent company) and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) have announced plans to invest a combined $157 billion in AI technology as well.
Coupled with these mind boggling investments are actions from the Trump Administration focused on AI deregulation and accelerated permitting for large-scale AI data centers. These government actions, coupled with the enormous amounts of money being poured into the industry, has created an industry that’s purpose centers around higher profits for Wall Street and leaves everyday people dealing with financial and environmental harm.

In Nov. 2025, Northern Plains welcomed Senior Campaign Manager at Kairos and data center researcher Nicole Sugerman, to speak at our Annual Meeting on the subject of data centers, their rapid ascension across the United States, and the possible implications and pitfalls surrounding this mysterious industry.

THE HARMFUL IMPACTS OF DATA CENTERS

Financial Impact to Montana Ratepayers
Montana does not currently have an energy grid that is capable of handling such large data centers and the strain that they would put on it, nor does our state have enough power generation to provide the energy needed to service them. Utilities would have to invest in new generation and upgrade/build more transmission. Because there aren’t clear laws outlining how these data center-related investments are paid for and how everyday utility ratepayers are insulated from data centers, Montana ratepayers could end up footing the bill for the data center infrastructure through higher monthly energy costs.

Impacts to our Water
Hyperscale data centers are very resource intensive. On the water front, data centers require an immense amount of water to keep their computers cool (In the case of Quantica’s proposed project in Broadview, MT, they estimate using around 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water per day). But not only is quantity a concern; the quality of the water after they use it for their data center is also a major flag. Often, data centers will put chemicals in the water they use for cooling, and when that water is discharged, it can cause very harmful effects if not treated.

Impacts to our Air and Land
The energy demand from hyperscale data centers threatens to more than double the amount of energy our state as a whole uses. NorthWestern Energy currently provides around 760 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the state during an average day. Current data center proposals in Montana would require over 1,000MW of additional energy. Big Tech’s power needs will likely come from fossil fuel generation like natural gas and coal, leading to increased air pollution, harm to our working landscapes, and impacts to communities close by, which are most often rural, smaller ones.

"We're living through a historic moment in terms of the speed and capital that a small number of companies are throwing into AI and data centers. We need to organize and put real protections in place before the rules are written for Montanans."

Mike McDearmon

Member Leader

FACT CENTER

RATEPAYERS OVER-PAYING

Data centers cost millions -- and sometimes billions -- to construct, and you could be the one paying for them. In 2025, NWE charged its ratepayers $240M+ for their unapproved methane plant in Laurel, MT.

MORE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH

The Montana data center property tax rate of 0.9% is lower than most residential properties, agricultural land, and other commercial properties in Montana.

MASSIVE AMNTS OF WATER

Depending on the size of the project, data centers require anywhere from 300,000 to 5,000,000 gallons of water per day to operate.

THE MYTH SURROUNDING JOBS

As data centers continue to be built, the technology they are facilitating - artificial intelligence - is leading to huge layoffs across the nation. Data centers generate relatively few jobs compared to the cost of building and amount of land it occupies.

OUTRAGEOUS ENERGY CONSUMPTION

NWE produces about 760 megawatts (MW) of power annually. If all the current project proposals came to fruition, that figure could more than double to 1,400 MW, and customers would be on the hook to pay for it.

BACKDOOR DEALS

It’s often very difficult to find out who is funding projects or how the construction will impact communities. And the troubling practice of Non-Disclosure Agreements between big tech and local governments blocks community participation.

DATA CENTERS COMING TO MONTANA
AND WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT

CURRENT MONTANA DATA CENTER PROPOSALS

There are currently two projects that are continuing to move forward in Montana right now – one in Broadview and one in Butte. However, it’s been reported that NorthWestern Energy is in discussions with 11 other data center developers about potential projects in Montana and South Dakota.

Broadview Project – Quantica Infrastructure

Quantica Infrastructure is a Texas-based company that was created by a private equity frim called EnCap Investments.
Quantica is looking to develop a 5,000-acre tech campus, just two miles south of Broadview.
The campus will house potentially dozens of data center buildings and other infrastructure and have an energy need of 1,000 megawatts.
In May of 2026, Quantica announced that they are looking to increase the amount of energy that they generate in Broadview by 7,235MW – over 5x the amount of power they originally told the public they were going to have at their campus.
Back-up diesel generators will be included.
No end-user has been selected for this project (I.e., Quantica is only building the infrastructure. The ‘end-user’ – a company like Microsoft or Google – would be the ones using the infrastructure for tech purposes.)_

Bonner Project – Krambu

Krambu is a San Jose, CA-based data center company that operates in WA, ID, and MT.
This project is projected to be a about 9 to 10 megawatts and the company has said they would like to expand that in the future.
The project is set to be constructed at the Bonner Mill Industrial Park.
It’s been reported that the project will receive power from Energy Keepers Inc. – an independent power producer, wholly owned by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
Missoula County is currently in discussion with the developer about various regulations and a lease agreement.
Developer said the data center will bring back 20 of the about 100 jobs that were lost when Universal Forest Products closed down their operation of the mill.
Sources:
- KPAX article
- MTFP article on Mill layoffs in 2025

Butte Project – Atlas Power Group

Atlas Power Group is a California based company that runs data centers in MT, KY, ND, and TX.
NorthWestern Energy is in an agreement with Atlas to provide them with an expansion of 150 megawatts to their flagship cryptomining facility in Butte
It is unclear if the expansion will also be for cryptocurrency
The announced start date is mid-2027
Atlas is currently in the ‘Letter of Intent’ stage with NorthWestern
Sources:
- NorthWestern’s 2025 draft load forecast
- Data Center Dynamics article

Butte Project – Sabey Data Centers

Sabey Data Centers is a Seattle based company that operates data centers in WA, OR, NY, TX, and VA
Sabey reached a deal with NorthWestern to receive 250 megawatts of power for their project that is being proposed just west of Butte
The announced start date is mid-2027
Sabey is currently in the ‘Letter of Intent’ stage with NorthWestern
Sources:
- MTFP article on proposal

"I’m concerned about the lack of transparency as several data centers are planned in Montana. They require massive amounts of water and electricity to operate, and I am concerned that ratepayers will be stuck with the high costs of generating that power, and that local water supplies and infrastructure will be strained. Thanks to NPRC for creating public awareness of these Godzillas and encouraging proper planning, supervision, and community partnership as they are developed.”

“I am concerned about the huge amount of power they need and I am concerned about water usage for cooling. I feel strongly that all costs for data centers need to be paid in cash up front. The big tech companies needing the data centers have billions of dollars and they need to pay for any infrastructure that has to be built, such as generation, transmission lines, distribution lines and any other costs.”

“Data Centers are not for Montana. We value the beauty and sacredness of the land we live on, we need to protect it. Montana is one of the last frontiers we have left. We shouldn't be giving it away to big businesses invading Montana that don't value the land but only see it as profit. As grandparents and parents today, our ancestors and future generations want us to stand up and protect their homeland, not give it away.”

"We see NorthWestern Energy, Big Tech, state, local and federal governments pushing these centers while refusing to answer questions. They have secrets because they aren't going to benefit us, just pick our pockets."

HOW WE WIN!

The Movement Has Begun

As you can see, Big Tech has set its sights on Montana. Private equity backed companies are proposing to blanket thousands of acres of our state with massive data center campuses. The industry and its allies want you to believe this is all inevitable. That resistance is futile. Fortunately, that is a lie.

Since the start of 2026, Montanans all across the state have packed into lecture halls, churches, small businesses, and other community spaces to hear about what Big Tech’s plan is for their state. The revelations that were learned in those spaces have sparked organizing efforts from Glendive to Missoula, and there is no sign of it slowing down.

What’s happening in Montana right now is not just people showing up to events. Northern Plains is building something deeper: An organized base of leaders who can sustain a fight over the months and years ahead. Organizing means building teams of people rooted in shared self-interest, with clear roles, real accountability, and a power mission that extends far beyond any single meeting.

This is what it looks like to build what we call a “team of co-conspirators,” people bound together not by obligation but by a shared stake in Montana’s future, each holding a consequential piece of the work.

The data center industry frames their proliferation as unstoppable. A force of nature that communities must simply accept. That framing is designed to demoralize us before the fight even begins.

Ordinary people, organized together with a clear plan and shared purpose, are the most powerful force in this democracy.

The truth is that organized communities are blocking and delaying these projects at a remarkable rate. According to Data Center Watch, between May 2024 and March 2025, local opposition blocked or delayed $64 billion in U.S. data center projects. Then, in just three months from March to June 2025, that number jumped to $98 billion more, according to WIRED. At least 142 groups across 24 states are now organizing against data center construction.

The truth is, organized communities all across the country are showing us in real time that we, as everyday Montanans, can wield serious power in this fight. As we near the 70th Montana Legislative Session starting in January, 2027, having this people power will be crucial in making sure that we pause all data center projects in our state so that we can make it very clear to Big Tech – these are our towns, and it’ll be on our terms.

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