Bonner Data Center
Update 6/8/2026:
The Bonner Data Center project developer is continuing to finalize materials for presentation to the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board (MCCLUB). At this time, the public hearing schedule is to be determined, pending receipt of a complete application.
You can sign up to follow this project at the right-hand side on this page. When the new date is determined for the MCCLUB public hearing, project followers and commenters will receive an email.
This project will be reviewed by the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board (MCCLUB). This land use board holds their public hearing meetings on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Sophie Moiese room of the Missoula County Courthouse. There may occasionally be a second meeting in the month, which will usually be the third Wednesday. There will be prior notice. These meetings are always open to the public.
The meeting agenda and related documents will be published on the Consolidated Land Use Board page.
Project overview
Missoula County is reviewing a proposed data center at 9314 Bonner Mill Road. The property is zoned industrial.
The proposal involves reusing a portion of the former mill building — commonly referred to as the planer building — for a high-performance computing (HPC) data center. This means most of the development would occur inside the existing structure, with no major expansion of the building footprint. Interior improvements would include constructing specialized rooms to house computer servers and supporting equipment.
The proposed data center would operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days per week, with minimal on-site staffing and relatively limited vehicle traffic associated primarily with maintenance and service visits.
The cooling system consists of a combination of adiabatic and evaporative cooling towers. The evaporative units would use water supplied from the site's existing fire suppression well rather than the domestic well system serving nearby residences. The applicant has indicated that no backup generators are proposed in the event of power outage.
The initial phase of the facility is expected to use approximately 7 megawatts (MW) of electrical power, with the potential to expand over time to utilize up to 29 MW, which is the estimated capacity currently available at the site.
Project summary
Current step: Special exception review
Application status: Third application submitted; Missoula County has requested more information.
Expected hearing: Postponed until further notice
- This project will be reviewed by the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board (MCCLUB). This land use board holds their public hearing meetings on the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. in the Sophie Moiese room of the Missoula County Courthouse. There may occasionally be a second meeting in the month, which will usually be the third Wednesday. There will be prior notice. These meetings are always open to the public.
What is being reviewed in this project proposal?
The Special Exception review is required when the use, because of location, scale, required infrastructure or other potential impacts, requires a special degree of consideration and control to ensure such uses are consistent and compatible with the overall community character and whether potential impacts can be avoided or mitigated.
This page has been updated to reflect revised staff analysis of the scope of review. The Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board (MCCLUB) must not approve a special exception unless and until they find the project application demonstrates all of the following:
The proposed use or development will be compatible with and will not substantially injure the value of adjoining property.
The proposed use preserves the character of the district, and the property is suitable for the proposed use (e.g. can meet the bulk and dimensional standards without requiring a variance).
The proposed use promotes the purpose and intent of the TIF Special District, where appropriate.
Substitute or additional design standards will preserve and protect the area’s architectural and aesthetic qualities.
In reviewing a Special Exception application MCCLUB shall give due consideration to the following:
a) Access, traffic, parking demand, non-motorized transportation and onsite vehicle circulation
b) Dedication and development of streets, rights of way, and public use areas, such as adjoining sidewalks
c) Impacts on or of public and private utilities or services
d) Proposed siting of any new structures necessary to accommodate the use and their relationship to adjoining and surrounding properties
e) Recreation opportunities and open lands available to serve the use
f) Natural resource protections
g) Landscaping and screening requirements
h) Signage and street lighting
i) Noise, vibration, outdoor lighting and other on and offsite impacts from the use
j) Frequency of use and hours of operation
k) Area of land necessary and adequacy of the site to accommodate the use and meet the intent of the district and character of the neighborhood
l) How the proposed use addresses the purpose of the TIF Special District intended to attract, retain, grow and develop secondary value-adding industries
m) Any other unique or relevant circumstances related to the property.
The burden to demonstrate compliance with these criteria falls to the applicant, not the County or MCCLUB.
Reasonable and appropriate conditions may be required to ensure that any potentially injurious effect of the Special Exception on adjoining properties, the character of the neighborhood, the purpose and intent of the TIF Special District, or the health, safety and general welfare of the community will be minimized. Conditions much be based on the criteria for review.
Zoning compliance permit
If a special exception is approved, the developers must apply for a zoning compliance permit. The permit application must demonstrate compliance with the County's data center zoning regulations, including requirements for new renewable energy and e-waste recycling. Zoning compliance permits are subject to administrative review and do not go through public hearing process.
Project review timeline
March 2026: Initial Contact
- Krambu and Missoula County Planning first discussed the proposed data center project.
March 25, 2026: First Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
- The applicant submitted the first Special Exception application. County staff determined that more information was needed before public review could begin.
April 28, 2026: Second Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
- The applicant submitted additional materials. County staff continued reviewing the application and identified remaining information needed for completeness.
May 11, 2026: Third Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
- The applicant submitted a special exception application. Applicant has notified the county that a new application packet will be made available.
Date to be determined based on application completeness: Public Notice Period
- The County will mail notices to property owners within 500 feet, publish a legal notice, and post notices near the property.
Date to be determined based on application completeness: Consolidated Land Use Board Hearing
- The Consolidated Land Use Board is expected to consider the Special Exception request.
Date to be determined based on application completeness: Possible Permit Review
- If approved, Krambu may then apply for a Zoning Compliance Permit and other required permits.
How can I participate?
Community members are encouraged to stay informed and provide public comment. Comments are most helpful when they address the topics the Land Use Board may consider during Special Exception review, especially potential impacts to nearby residential properties.
Follow this project page if you want be emailed when there are updates with this project.
Who's Listening
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Phone 406-258-4946 -
Climate Action Program Manager
Missoula County Planning, Development and Sustainability
Phone (406) 258-3442
Documents
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May 11 – Third Special Exception Application – deemed incomplete
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complete_special-exception-application 032526 (1).pdf (9.04 MB) (pdf)
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Supplemental Narrative 5-26.pdf (27.3 KB) (pdf)
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Supplemental Information-4-27-26.pdf (10.5 MB) (pdf)
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Supplemental information 5_26.pdf (1.14 MB) (pdf)
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Bonner Site Plan COMPLETE.pdf (411 KB) (pdf)
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heat study site plan_Washinton example.pdf (553 KB) (pdf)
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April 28 – Second Special Exception Application – deemed incomplete
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March 25 – First Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
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Correspondence
While the proposal is in its early stages, I hope the County and the Consolidated Land Use Board will take a proactive approach to evaluating potential impacts.
Data centers have significant demands on energy, water, and infrastructure systems and would like clarity from the developer on energy sourcing (what formal agreements will be required to secure renewable energy for this project?) and potential rate impacts, infrastructure needs, back up power systems (diesel generators or gas?), and water use (how much will be required for heating and cooling, potential impacts for water availability in drought conditions). Finally, what is the value they are bringing to the community wrt actual jobs and tax revenue?
Thank you for your consideration.
We can't seriously be considering this?! There we be NO community benefit. They will have to upgrade the water and power infrastructure on the publics dime! Then they use BILLIONS of gallons of water annually to cool it and it is forever gone and the vapor that is left is contaminated! They will increase the community and surrounding communities power bills FOREVER! And the likelihood of if creating more than 1-2 permanent jobs is nil. Keep this out of our MONTANA. JUST SAY NO TO AI SUPER DATA CENTERS!
These data centers have come in to communities with lies. They have ruined the local residents livelihoods and ruined the environment. There have been videos circulating how peoples water is no longer safe to use and they now have to pay more for hauling their own water from outside their PUCs. They were told that there was going to be jobs. Those jobs went to people that were brought in from out of town and state. They were lied to about the usage of water and the need increases all the time. When the water table is sucked dry the data center has priority. They will hide the true cost behind legalese until it's too late. The stories from The Dalles Oregon talks about how farmers cant even use the water for crops and the lower the water table gets the less the public's allowed because the data center gets priority. It heats up the water and kills the water shed environment for the fish and wildlife. They get all kinds of 'tax breaks' and that cost is put on the local residents. The housing we need for those we have now will be taken by outsiders causing us to fund new housing. When we can no longer afford to stay in homes or support our farms we will be forced in to 15 minute cities. Montana needs to make these people go someplace else. We have built our communities to support our way of life and that is being robbed from us by these technologies sold to us with lies. They may find 1 or 2 people in our area to hire as janitors but they wont be hiring locally for the majority of jobs and that brings in those who have no respect for our way of life. Dont just read current news about these centers. Read archived articles about what they did and how it ruins the lives of the locals.
The environmental negative impacts outweigh the positives. Missoula and Montana’s economies thrive on our natural resources. They will be at risk if this AI data center is built. Please refer to other examples of AI data centers being built in communities. They will cause more harm than good.
There are zero benefits to this project that outweigh the danger and damage to the environment, energy costs for citizens, noise disruption in the valley, and the fact that there is no way to responsibly dispose of e-waste. This is a horrible, horrible project and should not be approved.
In The Dalles Oregon AI centers were sold as environmental and would create jobs. THEY LIED. All over the country AI centers have been sold like this to the local community. They LIED. It ruined the water shes it ruined the community and the jobs were filled by people from out of town and state. THEY LIE. They manipulate the emotion of the local community and then you suffer. Any place these centers have been built the community people water electricity and farms have been ruined. It heats up the water and kills the fish and when the water levels drop as they do we know the data center will be prioritized leaving the residents to find ways to get potable water. Some areas have reported brown tap water and unsafe to even bathe in. Montana deserves to stay pristine. We are the best water shed for the country outside of Michigan. We can not allow these centers to ruin our lives. The company becomes so powerful you cant fight them and they all start with this... we are safe for the environment and just a tiny little thing. As their water usage increases as demand is on the plant the people are left out in the cold. The slow creep to 15 minute cities. Fight this. Push back. Send them packing. They will ruin the community read the archives of the story of The Dalles Oregon data centers. Not the current cover up news but the Archives.
Get out of here now! Do you want water, wildlife, and peace? Or do you want no water, accelerated death drive of wildlife and planet, and loud psychosis inducing noise? AI is an evil that was built off of theft and is being weaponized against those who unwittingly created and have no need for it. Vampire technology that sucks the life from the real world in order to create an artificial one. No no no no no no no!!!!
This seems like a ludicrous idea to even consider this idea. Yes the area could use some industry but destroying our precious ecosystem in that area and disrupting the Blackfoot River seems like a huge mistake. Please don’t let this happen!!!
Absolutely not. No other community is seeing any positive benefits from these data centers. Our natural resources and environment are too precious to gamble on a corporation doing the right thing. Please deny this project!
I have a lot of concerns about this project and the impacts on the residents and environment. Montana has a long history of environmental damage at the hands of a few wealthy people trying to get wealthier. At a time when regulations and simple data collection is being defunded and undermined, how are working people supposed to trust this development to be a responsible neighbor? I'm hoping the council demands receipts and proceeds with a healthy dose of skepticism.
This would be truly disastrous for the community in so many ways. There is no way this should even be considered.
No, this data center will not benefit our community in any way.
There is a clear trend of exploitative industry in Montana. This Data Center is no exception. Allowing this project to go forward would be in direct contrast to residents desire and public benefit. Please send a clear message that predatory businesses are not welcome in Missoula County.
I am not advocating for this project. It will take more from the community than it provides. That said, I can answer some questions :
1. It should not impact the wastewater system as the water used is closed loop.
2. Further they capture most (90%?) of the heat that is generated for reuse. The idea being heating greenhouses or aquaponics .
From a environmental perspective, considering what these two companies are doing to bring the bitcoining mining/ai data center to Bonner is not terrible.
From a business perspective it will not help Bonner. This includes income generation for local residents.
No! No! No! Other than the few who profit from this, the whole community suffers. The environment suffers. And we all know that regulations and rules don't mean anything to those in power. Those running AI are the new copper kings. We in MT know where that got us the first time. We don't need more AI. We need to keep this planet human-powered, respecting it and one another. No profits over people. No profits over our MT way of life.
I worry that the water use and disposal has not been addressed. How much water will be consumed? How will it strain our wastewater treatment facilities? How will it impact future development plans?
Another factor is noise…noise in a mountain valley. We need an absolute guarantee that the noise this center will make will not negatively impact our community for the years to come. Cumulative stress from constant noise (and light, etc) is a health hazard, impacting sleep and everyday life.
I appreciate that the center would use all renewable energy sources. Does that mean they’d cover all development and future payments associated with the renewable project?
Sadly, in our current system, recycling all e-waste is not reality. How will they guarantee all e-waste actually gets recycled? I do not want the waste just sitting around somewhere. That’s not recycling, that’s disposal.
Thank you for your consideration.
This is a horrible idea. I strongly disapprove of a data center. Do not allow this to be built. There is no benefit.
There is no upside to this project that is worth the costs it will have on the community. Please do not proceed.
This is against our state’s constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. AI bubble is about to burst, and even if it wasn’t, it’s a morally corrupt and useless endeavor. If this project proceeds, it will be against the will of the people who live here.
I'm deeply concerned about the prospect of an AI data center being built within Missoula county for a variety of reasons. This technology is too new to fully understand its impacts. I don't believe that any of the regulations proposed would suffice to reduce or eliminate the risk. The economic benefit to our community seems very minimal. There has been report after report of the negative impacts of data centers that have been hastily constructed throughout the country that are just now coming to light. Any potential benefit for this specific instruction is far outweighed by the known or unknown risks. I'm not a properly law expert but it appears that there is an avenue too legitimately deny the request for a special exception here. I was strongly urge the Consolidated Land Board to deny this proposal.