REC Silicon secures 628 acres near Butte facility after data center plans fall through
REC Silicon has secured 628 acres in Butte-Silver Bow County, Montana, for a buffer zone, after initial data center development plans for the site did not proceed. This land deal occurs as Butte-Silver Bow County faces a lawsuit regarding a ballot initiative on proposed data centers and has an existing moratorium on new data center construction.
REC Silicon has acquired approximately 628 acres of land in Butte-Silver Bow County, Montana, for $1.8 million. The land, which was initially slated for a data center project, will now serve as a buffer zone for REC Silicon's chemical manufacturing facility. The company stated the need for this buffer due to the dangerous nature of its products. The sale and purchase agreement was approved by the Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners.
This development comes amidst ongoing legal challenges regarding data center development in the county. Last month, a local group filed a lawsuit against Butte-Silver Bow County to compel a ballot initiative on proposed data centers. While a court judge initially ruled against the initiative, the case has since been appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.
Separately, Butte-Silver Bow County has also enacted a moratorium on data center construction, further indicating a restrictive environment for new data center projects in the region.