Initiative would put data centers to a vote in Yellowstone County
A citizen initiative in Yellowstone County, Montana, proposes requiring voter approval for new data centers. County Commissioners have filed a lawsuit to challenge the initiative's constitutionality. Proponents are continuing their signature collection efforts for the November ballot.
A citizen-led initiative in Yellowstone County, Montana, aims to mandate voter approval for all new data center construction and expansions. On Tuesday, Yellowstone County Commissioners directed the county attorney's office to file a lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of the proposed initiative. County staff have expressed uncertainty about their authority to implement and enforce such development limits.
Advocacy group Yellowstone County Voices, which supports the initiative, is continuing its efforts to gather the nearly 17,000 required signatures, representing 15 percent of the county's population, to place the measure on the November ballot. Opponents of data centers cite concerns regarding potential impacts on local infrastructure, utility rates, and environmental resources. The organization maintains that the initiative deserves a public vote, despite the ongoing legal challenge from the county.