Mining and Data Center Threats Close In on Montana’s Famed Blackfoot River
A proposed data center by Krambu in Bonner, Montana, faces strong local opposition due to concerns over its significant electricity and water usage, and potential noise and environmental impacts on the Blackfoot River. Missoula County has deemed Krambu's initial application insufficient for review, prompting the company to revise and resubmit its proposal. Local grassroots organizations and residents are actively campaigning against the project.
Montana's Blackfoot River, a renowned trout fishing destination, is facing environmental threats from both proposed mining operations and a new data center development. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has approved an exploratory drilling permit for Sentinel Metals, an Australian company, in the Blackfoot's headwaters, raising concerns about future open-pit gold mining and the potential use of cyanide-heap leaching, a method previously banned by Montanans. Jerry O'Connell, Executive Director of Big Blackfoot Riverkeeper, and David Brooks, Executive Director of Montana Trout Unlimited, highlight the historical environmental damage in the area and fear new mining could negate decades of restoration efforts.
Downstream in Bonner, Idaho-based Krambu proposes an AI data center project. Locals are alarmed by its projected electricity consumption of up to 29 megawatts and significant water usage for cooling, despite Krambu's claims of a closed-loop system. Residents and environmental groups, including Missoula Neighbors United, argue that the data center's operations, noise, and infrastructure needs would negatively impact the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers, as well as the surrounding community.
Missoula County recently determined that Krambu's initial application for the data center was "insufficient" for review by the Missoula Consolidated Land Use Board, requiring the company to revise and resubmit its plans. This comes amidst ongoing drought conditions affecting the river, further intensifying calls from advocates for greater transparency regarding the project's environmental and infrastructural impacts.