Proposed Data Center in Broadview, Montana Raises Environmental Concerns
A Laurel resident is reflecting on the negative effects of an existing gas plant built by NorthWestern Energy as a new proposal for a large data center emerges near Broadview, Montana. The proposed Quantica data center would require substantial energy, potentially from multiple new gas plants, raising significant environmental concerns about air pollution and water use among local residents and conservation groups.
Steve Krum, a long-time resident of Laurel, Montana, is expressing serious concerns about a newly proposed data center near Broadview, drawing parallels to his past opposition against the NorthWestern Energy gas plant built in Laurel in 2024. Krum claims the existing Yellowstone County Generating Station, which generates 175 megawatts, has negatively impacted the community with hazardous air pollutants and low-frequency noise.
The proposed data center, planned by Quantica on a 5,000-acre plot near Broadview, is seeking a maximum of 7,235 megawatts of energy. Emails from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality indicate Quantica is exploring the construction of multiple gas plants to meet this demand. Edward Barta of the Northern Plains Resource Council, a conservation group that opposed the Laurel plant, shares Krum's worries, particularly regarding the potential for increased air pollution and significant water usage in an area already facing water challenges.
NorthWestern Energy previously defended its Laurel plant, stating its commitment to reliable energy and highlighting it as one of the country's cleaner reciprocating plants. Company Vice President John Hines emphasized the need for consistent power during critical weather events when renewable sources are less available. However, Krum advocates for a mandate requiring such large-scale energy sites to operate on 100 percent green energy to prevent negative community impacts.