Bonner data center hearing delayed as Missoula County review continues
A public hearing for the proposed Bonner Data Center in Missoula County, Montana, has been postponed. The delay is to allow the developer to complete necessary materials as Missoula County continues its review of the project's potential impact on local homes and its resource demands, including electricity and water.
A public hearing for the proposed Bonner Data Center in Missoula, Montana, scheduled for July 1 before the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board, has been postponed. The delay is attributed to the developer needing more time to finalize presentation materials for the board's review. Missoula County is currently evaluating the plan to transform a section of the former mill building at 9314 Bonner Mill Road into a high-performance computing data center.
County officials emphasize that their primary focus during this stage is to assess the project's potential impact on nearby residential areas, rather than questioning the general suitability of a data center on an industrial site. The proposed facility would primarily utilize the existing planer building, minimizing new construction, and include interior spaces for servers and supporting equipment. It is designed to operate continuously with minimal on-site staff and limited traffic. The cooling system plans involve adiabatic and evaporative towers, drawing water from the site's fire suppression well, and the proposal does not include backup generators for power outages.
The initial phase of the data center is projected to consume approximately 7 megawatts of electricity, with potential expansion to 29 megawatts, aligning with the site's estimated available capacity. While the special exception application was deemed complete on May 11, 2026, county staff have requested additional information. If this request is approved, the developer would still be required to obtain a zoning compliance permit and adhere to county regulations regarding renewable energy and e-waste recycling. The county provides updates on its Bonner Data Center project page and the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board page for interested parties.