Fort Peck Tribes Ban Future Data Center Discussions on Reservation
The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board has voted to ban all future discussions with data center developers on their northeast Montana reservation. This decision follows approaches from three companies and is driven by concerns over resource utilization, particularly water, and a lack of clear benefits for the tribes.
The Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board has enacted a ban on all future discussions with entities proposing data center developments on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes' reservation in northeast Montana. This unanimous vote, taken on Monday, marks a significant stance against the burgeoning data center industry, which has increasingly targeted tribal lands nationwide.
Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure confirmed that three different companies had approached the tribes over the past year regarding potential projects. However, these developers failed to provide clear answers on how the tribes would benefit from the facilities, leading to concerns that they primarily sought to exploit tribal resources without adequate compensation.
Executive Board member Roxanne Gourneau emphasized that the measure's intent is to completely ban data centers from the reservation. Gourneau highlighted the tribes' historical struggles with water contamination and significant investments made to secure clean drinking water, stating, "We cannot compromise our water and environment with uncertainty." The board's decision reflects mounting statewide opposition to data center expansion, driven by environmental and electricity impact concerns.