Reputation grows for Oklahoma data center opponent

Darren Blanchard, a data center opponent from Claremore, Oklahoma, is gaining attention for his vocal opposition to data center projects beyond his local area. After being recently arrested for speaking beyond the 3-minute time limit at a Claremore City Council meeting, Blanchard has been invited to speak in the small Montana town of Broadview, where residents are fighting a proposed 5,000-acre data center project by Quantica Infrastructure. Community members in Broadview, located about 30 miles north of Billings, are concerned about the potential impact the data center would have on their town, which relies on trucked-in water. Cari Olson, who started the group Just One Montanan, is trying to convince state legislators to take action before approving data center projects in Montana. The Montana Environmental Information Center, led by Executive Director Anne Hedges, has also been organizing town hall meetings to discuss the issue. Blanchard, known for opposing a solar farm proposed in Wagoner County and a data center in Claremore, has been asked to share his experiences fighting various energy and technology projects. He agrees with the Broadview residents' concerns about the extensive water usage required for data centers, especially in small towns that rely on trucked-in water supplies.