Opinion: Data Centers Present Opportunity for Montana
This opinion piece argues that data centers are a good fit for Montana, addressing concerns about energy, water, and land use. It proposes solutions like self-powered facilities using small modular reactors and closed-loop cooling systems. The author highlights economic benefits and advocates for political support for data center development in the state.
An opinion piece published in the Lewistown News-Argus argues for the economic and environmental benefits of data centers in Montana, despite them being a significant political issue due to permitting and resource demands. The author counters arguments made by local resident Sam Huston, suggesting that self-powered facilities, potentially using small modular reactors (SMRs), and closed-loop cooling systems can effectively address energy and water concerns.
The article references President Trump's support for similar concepts and SMRs. It cites examples like Tract's and Crusoe's projects in Texas, and Equinix and Bloom Energy's use of on-site fuel cells, to demonstrate the viability of self-powered data centers. The author clarifies that BWXT Technologies plans to enter the SMR market for data centers, which would use lower-enriched fuel than military reactors.
Regarding water usage, the piece defends Sabey's proposed project in Butte, stating it would use only a small fraction of a non-potable industrial water system's capacity, primarily for non-cooling purposes. It also highlights that self-powered facilities would reduce the overall water burden compared to relying on grid-supplied power, which uses vast amounts of water for cooling. On land use, the author contends that self-powered data centers require significantly less land (20-100 acres) compared to the thousands of acres needed for grid-supplied renewable energy sources.
Potential benefits include utilizing disturbed mining sites, such as Berkeley Pit, for cooling and avoiding environmental lawsuits, as well as significant tax revenue for local and state governments. The article also projects higher job numbers for Sabey's Butte project than previously cited (500-600 construction, 200 full-time) and notes that local companies like VACOM and Montana's workforce could benefit. The author encourages state representatives, like Shane Klakken, to continue supporting data center development in Montana.