Montana mom fights back against data centers in her small town
Kassi Solberg, a resident of Broadview, Montana, is leading a community effort to oppose the development of a data center in her small town. Her primary concerns include water consumption and electricity strain. The group is forming a coalition and pursuing a Yellowstone County ballot initiative to stop the project.
Kassi Solberg, a resident of Broadview, Montana, located north of Billings, is spearheading local opposition against a proposed data center in her community. Solberg, who moved to Broadview in November 2025 and became aware of the project 44 days later via social media, expressed concerns about the potential environmental impact and resource strain on the small town of approximately 175 residents.
Her main worries revolve around the data center's water and electricity usage, citing "devastation" caused by hyperscale AI data centers in other states. She believes "technology geniuses" should find better ways to build and store data without harming society or the environment. Solberg is critical of the lack of innovation in current data center development, suggesting alternatives like smaller units or laser-based storage.
Despite being told the project cannot be stopped, Solberg is actively fighting it. She and her supporters are forming a coalition and plan to introduce a Yellowstone County ballot initiative to address the issue. The initiative is promoted via the website notmybill.org.