What a data center costs, and where the money lands
The University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research presented an economic model for a hypothetical data center in Yellowstone County, estimating its impact on Montana jobs and goods. This comes as several data center projects across the state have stalled or faced opposition, with groups in Cascade County petitioning for a temporary halt on construction until regulations are enacted.
The University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) presented an economic impact study on data centers in Helena, Montana. The study, based on a hypothetical facility in a rural part of Yellowstone County, estimated that a data center would create approximately 500 temporary construction jobs and 250 long-term positions, with about 10% of its total cost contributing to Montana's economy.
The presentation highlighted the growing interest in the data center industry within Montana, juxtaposed with the challenges developers face in breaking ground. Several projects across the state have encountered significant hurdles. A proposed facility in Bonner, east of Missoula, was recently stalled due to the property owner's withdrawal of support. Similarly, a project in Great Falls met a similar end last November, where a local group is actively petitioning Cascade County to implement a temporary moratorium on data center construction pending the enactment of new regulations. In Butte, another proposed data center is facing resistance from a local coalition pushing for new facilities to require voter approval, reflecting a broader pattern of grassroots opposition statewide.