Missoula County Enacts One-Year Moratorium on Data Center Zoning After Bonner Proposal
Missoula County commissioners have enacted a one-year moratorium on data center zoning following strong public opposition to a proposal in Bonner. The decision was prompted by concerns over the proposed data center's immense power and water demands. This pause will allow the county to thoroughly analyze the impacts of such facilities.
Missoula County commissioners have enacted a one-year moratorium on data center zoning, prompted by a controversial proposal for a data center in Bonner. The proposed "Krambu" facility, now reportedly defunct, drew widespread criticism for its potential power demands, which opponents claimed would exceed the entire City of Missoula's consumption. A significant public hearing saw numerous residents, including Nathan Stephens and Carla Abrams, urge the county to halt data center development to address concerns regarding water usage, strain on the power grid, and limited local economic benefits.
County Commissioner Josh Slotnick highlighted that existing zoning rules, adopted five years prior due to a noisy cryptocurrency mining operation at the same Bonner location, were crucial in interrupting the Krambu proposal. The newly enacted moratorium expands on these earlier zoning changes. This measure provides the county with time to thoroughly evaluate the broader impacts of data centers and determine appropriate regulations for future developments.