Butte council to weigh data center moratorium
Butte-Silver Bow County is considering a temporary data center moratorium while a ballot initiative on data center approvals awaits a Montana Supreme Court hearing. County Commissioner Michele Shea requested the council's judiciary committee review drafting a moratorium to address public interest in these projects. The council's judiciary committee will review the potential moratorium next week.
Butte-Silver Bow County is actively considering a temporary moratorium on data center construction to allow for the implementation of proper regulations. County Commissioner Michele Shea formally requested the council of commissioners' support in directing County Attorney Matt Enrooth to draft a potential temporary moratorium. Shea emphasized that the request is not aimed at any specific proposal but rather reflects significant public interest and the need to maintain confidence in local decision-making processes.
The council's judiciary committee is scheduled to review the potential moratorium during its upcoming meeting. This development occurs as a separate ballot initiative, which would require voter approval for new data centers, faces a legal challenge. The initiative is currently awaiting an emergency appeal hearing in the Montana Supreme Court after a Butte-Silver Bow judge ruled it missed statutory deadlines. The group behind the initiative, 406 People First, is challenging the constitutionality of these deadlines.