How some Montanans are taking data center regulation into their own hands
Grassroots efforts in Montana's Butte-Silver Bow and Yellowstone counties are pursuing ballot initiatives to give voters direct approval power over new data center developments. These initiatives, driven by community concerns over water use and electricity strain, aim to curb data center growth after opposition to projects by companies like Sabey, Krambu, and Quantica. If successful, these petitions could establish a new precedent for data center regulation in the state.
Montana residents are initiating grassroots efforts in Butte-Silver Bow and Yellowstone counties to enable voters to decide on new data center developments. Denise Kelly, a real estate broker, founded 406 People First after growing frustrated with what she perceived as a one-sided push for Sabey Corporation's proposed data center in Butte, citing concerns about water use and electric rates. These citizen-led petitions aim to empower communities where the state government has provided little oversight.
The proposed ballot language, which will appear in November if organizers gather signatures from 15 percent of registered voters in each county, would require a two-thirds voter approval for any new or expanded data center. Anne Hedges, Executive Director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, supports these initiatives as a democratic response to government's perceived failure to protect communities from data center impacts.
Several data center projects in Montana have drawn significant local opposition. Sabey Corporation, after pulling out of an agreement in Butte, is still exploring other sites in southwest Montana. Missoula County is set to approve or deny Idaho-based Krambu's "Special Exception" permit for a facility in Bonner, amidst a Change.org petition with nearly 40,000 signatures opposing it. The largest proposed project, Quantica's "Big Sky Digital Infrastructure Campus" near Broadview in Yellowstone County, has drawn opposition from Kassi Solberg due to its immense projected power demands, which include a request for 7,235 megawatts of additional capacity from NorthWestern Energy.
Solberg, who spearheaded the Yellowstone County Ballot Initiative, views these efforts as a blueprint for other communities facing similar data center proposals. Kelly reports strong support for the Butte-Silver Bow petition, with organizers aiming to gather necessary signatures by late August. If the initiatives succeed in November, proponents believe they will significantly impact data center development in Montana, safeguarding local resources and giving residents a stronger voice.