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In the past year, AI data centers have exploded onto the scene in Montana. While proposals across the state are increasing, the information and transparency around these proposals is not. 

MEIC staff have been traveling across the state to educate communities and hear concerns about data center development. The response has been overwhelming. This is one issue that doesn't follow traditional divides or party lines. Montanans are in agreement: our elected officials should do something to protect Montanans from the harm that people in other states have already experienced. 

This new generation of data centers has a high potential for wreaking havoc on communities, on senior water rights holders and existing water resources, increasing electricity bills for Montana families and small businesses, and for disrupting the reliability and affordability of the electric and transmission systems. 

The good news is this doesn't have to happen. We have the ability to protect ourselves. Local, state and federal elected officials can protect us from data center development, but they are not likely to do so unless we ask. 

MEIC decided to create this data center watchdog newsletter to help Montanans know what's going on and how they can get involved - thanks for joining us. The newsletter will provide information on data center proposals in Montana communities, and legal tools you can use to protect your community, water resources, public health, and your energy bills. It will contain updates from community members who are pushing back and the strategies that are working.

We can protect ourselves, our communities and our natural resources. This newsletter is intended to help us do so - together. 

-Anne Hedges, MEIC

Click to sign the petition.

Operating:

• Big Horn Data Hub/TeraWulf Inc, Hardin | 90 MW
• Atlas Power Group, LLC, Butte | 150 MW

Proposed: 

• Quantica, Broadview/Big Sky Digital Infrastructure (BSDI), Broadview | 1000 MW
• Sabey Data Centers/Horizons, LLC, Butte | 250 MW
• Krambu, Bonner | 100 MW
• Upper Badlands Energy Hub, Glendive | 1025 MW
• HFI Energy Systems/HFI Green Energy Park, Whitehall | 500 MW
• Thunderhead Energy, Jefferson County | 500 MW

Learn more about these operations in this regularly-updated document from MEIC.

• County Commissions could protect water resources, community infrastructure and services, and ratepayers by enacting zoning. They could also enact a temporary moratorium on new data center projects until county approval processes and/or state-level regulations are adopted.
  
  
• Legislators should listen to constituents who are demanding action to protect the state from data centers and develop and support new laws that will protect water resources, air quality, communities, and existing Montanans' electricity bills. (Find your legislators and their contact information at legmt.gov or send a message through MEIC's website.)
  
  
• Gov. Gianforte should stop making promises to Big Tech companies looking to make Montana a sacrifice zone for data centers and instead protect Montanans who have to suffer the consequences of unregulated data center growth across the state and in their communities. Send the Governor a message on MEIC's website.
  
  

• The Public Service Commission should protect ratepayers from subsidizing the short and long term costs of providing electricity to new data centers and any infrastructure needed to power them. Contact the PSC through email (pschelp@mt.gov) or phone (406-444-6150)

  
  

• The State of Montana should not permit expensive new power plants that threaten water resources, local and statewide air quality, and local communities. 

NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Merger Public Hearing - Starts Tues., May 12

The proposed "merger" between NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Energy is closely tied to the growing demand from large-scale data centers.Their statements to investors emphasize the role of data centers in driving the deal, yet they have refused to provide any information regarding how they intend to serve data centers and how it could impact existing electricity customers.

The companies have sought approval from the Montana Public Service Commission, but their refusal to answer any questions about data centers raises concerns about the potential impacts on electricity rates, grid reliability, and water resources in Montana.

Structurally, the deal would create a much larger, eight state utility named Bright Horizons Energy Corporation that "would control about 20% of the US," according to NorthWestern. With a board of directors heavily weighted toward Black Hills Energy's existing operations, Montana customers would represent a small share of the overall system. The combined utility would serve millions of customers across the region, prompting concerns that Montana could bear rising costs or resource pressures, particularly related to powering energy-intensive data centers, while having limited control over the company's long-term plans.

The Montana Public Service Commission has an ongoing contested docket (2025.10.078) on whether to approve the application for the merger, with a public hearing (with an opportunity for public comment) kicking off Tuesday, May 12, and continuing day to day. There will be opportunity for public comment at the beginning of each day. Register to comment on Docket 2025.10.078 via Zoom by 4:30 on May 11 by calling 1-800-646-6150. 

Here is some more information about the merger.

Missoula Data Center Panel Discussion - Tues., May 19, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, University Center Theatre, (32 Campus Dr - third floor of the UC)

Join MEIC and partners on May 19 in Missoula for a panel discussion to learn about the data centers being proposed in Montana, including one in Bonner, what is at stake, and how we can organize to protect our communities and our future.

This panel discussion will dive deeper into data center development in Montana, especially in the Missoula area. Panelists will explore how public engagement can protect communities and how past efforts can offer lessons in creating change through public engagement.

This event is hosted by MEIC and sponsored by Western Environmental Law Center (WELC), Climate Smart Missoula, and the University of Montana's Office of Sustainability. Learn more about this event.

Governor's Energy Task Force - Wed., May 20 9:00AM-5:00PM

When Gov. Gianforte launched the Governor's Energy Task Force in September 2025, he promised that the group would "identify barriers and build strategies to deliver affordable, dependable energy for Montana families and businesses." Unfortunately - but not unsurprisingly - that task force seems focused on how to provide low-cost electricity for energy-hungry, water-consuming data centers, not Montana families.

The Task Force meets on May 20, and it's a great opportunity for you to show up and let the Governor and his hand-picked pro-data center Task Force members know what is actually important to Montana families and small businesses - lower cost electricity bills and protection of communities and individual water rights. Instead of catering to Big Tech, this Task Force should be analyzing the most affordable energy generation and ways to increase affordability for Montana families and small businesses.

Here is some more information about the Task Force meeting and what you can say.

About this newsletter:

Data Center Watchdogs is a newsletter by the Montana Environmental Information Center dedicated to sharing information about data center development in Montana. Learn more about MEIC and our work on data centers on our website.

You can support MEIC's work on data centers here.