Agreement between data center developer and union federation thin on details
Quantica Infrastructure announced a memorandum of understanding with the Southeastern Montana Building and Construction Trades Council for a massive 5,000-acre data center campus near Broadview, Montana. While the agreement focuses on union labor, details remain scarce. Environmental groups have raised concerns about the project's potential impacts and its demand for 7,000 megawatts of power.
Quantica Infrastructure, a development firm, has announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Southeastern Montana Building and Construction Trades Council for a proposed 5,000-acre data center campus, dubbed the Big Sky Campus, near Broadview, Montana. The project, which would be among the world's largest, is planned to include 12 to 16 buildings, each 200,000 to 300,000 square feet, and new energy infrastructure.
According to a press release, the MOU establishes a cooperative framework for union-backed workforce development and training. However, Trades Council President Clint McCulloch declined to share the MOU or provide specifics on job creation and unionization. The facility is estimated to require approximately 7,000 megawatts of power.
Environmental nonprofit Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) Executive Director Anne Hedges expressed concern over the lack of public details, characterizing the announcement as a "feel-good" PR effort. Separately, a coalition of groups has petitioned the Public Service Commission for stricter oversight of NorthWestern Energy, Montana's largest utility, arguing that data center agreements will lead to higher bills for residents. Travis Hall, a former adviser to Governor Greg Gianforte, distributed Quantica's release, praising the agreement as a win for Montana workers.