Bonner Data Center

I am writing to provide formal feedback regarding the Special Exception application for the proposed data center at the Bonner Mill site.

​While the "rough grounds" of this industrial site have a complex history, this new phase of development offers a unique opportunity to create a permanent gift for the Bonner community. Rather than treating this project as an isolated "box," I am proposing that a condition of the Special Exception permit include Thermal Integration with the Bonner School and surrounding infrastructure.

​As we have seen in successful international models—specifically in Finland where data center "waste heat" is used to warm entire districts—this technology can function as a community hearth rather than a resource drain.

​To ensure this project is a functional neighbor, I suggest the following requirements be integrated into the site plan:

​Thermal "Stub Out": The facility should include a secondary heat exchange loop (stub out) at the property line to allow for future connection to the school district’s heating system. ​Infrastructure Specifications: Any exterior heat-transfer piping should utilize double-walled, insulated piping suitable for glycol-based thermal fluid, ensuring both efficiency and environmental safety for the nearby Blackfoot River ecosystem. ​Integrated Utility Service: By capturing the 24/7 waste heat from the servers, the facility could provide a low-cost, sustainable heat source for the Bonner School and potentially for snow-melt systems on local pedestrian walkways, increasing safety and reducing taxpayer utility burdens.

​The goal is to move from a "transactional" industrial presence to an "integrated" community asset that supports our local infrastructure for generations to come.

​I have already discussed this vision with the Bonner School administration, and we believe this is the proper way to "clear the floor" for a responsible, high-tech future in our community.

Paul R

This is extremely unsustainable given the ongoing drought that the west faces. I strongly oppose this proposition! We do not need more data centers.

I am strongly opposed to this project. The environmental impact is so large and provides little to zero benefit to the public. Long-term, I would argue it actually provides a negative impact to the community.

I strongly oppose this proposal. Not only are the environmental impacts abhorrent, but this does not benefit our community whatsoever; in fact, it will harm it. In a time where community and resource protection are of the utmost importance, this proposal is a slap in the face to Missoula residents.

An emphatic NO.The I am concerned about rising electricity rates caused by data centers, the enormous water use that data centers require. And about public handouts in the form of tax breaks that are going to data center developers, and that data centers don’t bring meaningful economic development, especially in the form of jobs.

I strongly oppose this project for all the many environmental impacts that inevitably come with the operation of a data center like this.

Being a sovereign citizen of the Crow nation with family ties to the Blackfeet people who have been here since time immemorial and a resident near where the data center will be put my concern is the noise, the potential fire hazards, the construction and traffic it will bring to the community. As well as what the effects that the light pollution, and the constant hum will do to our neighborhood animals and dogs. There are serious concerns for my health and well being for this data center being put in Bonner. This violates our Montana Constitution, and Hellgate treaty rights.

I strongly oppose this project. My concerns are the environmental impacts and water consumption of this proposed data center. I am concerned about the nuisance, noise, vibrations, and other unanticipated impacts of a large data center so close to residents. This project will destroy the history of a Montana mill town and will contribute to the erosion of Montana’s identity. This proposal states it will have minimal staff operating the data center which means this will not generate more jobs. This project will not generate revenue for local residents and will instead significantly decrease the property value of local homeowners in Bonner. Strongly oppose.

I am strongly opposed to this project because of all of the negative environmental and community impacts that it will bring. It will consume large amounts of water, power, and take up land that could be used for actual community development. Additionally, data centers are a nuisance to the community by creating sound and light pollution as well. This data center would be a blemish on our community and only serve an industry that values profit over people.

This is resource extraction, plain and simple. Zero benefit to the community. No job creation. I cannot think of a single person in my neighborhood who would appreciate anything about this monstrosity.

I believe a data center should absolutely not be built in the Bonner/Milltown area. I very strongly oppose the idea. AI data centers have many harmful effects, some of those effects being the fact that it’s a nuisance, both visually and acoustically, it will cause a significant increase in pollution, and it will take up large amounts of land. Beyond that, AI data centers consume enormous amounts of fresh water, depleting our resources and depleting water pressure for local residents. They use exorbitant amounts of power, which will drive up energy bills for locals. Despite this area being used primarily for industrial reasons, people still live here and consider it home. If a business is to profit here, the residents should as well. The center will hardly add any jobs to the workforce. I have trouble in seeing the positive benefits from adding the AI center here besides it being a money-grab for the people who want to build it and run it. I don’t believe the economic and social benefits outweigh the negatives of such a center being built and operated in Bonner. The constant vibration and noise, the unavoidable sight of it, the water use and pollution, and all other basic traits of it make it a problem that shouldn’t need to be tolerated by residents of the area. Beyond the physical negative attributes and the decrease in quality of life for residents once it’s running, there’s also the moral and ethical implications to consider. While AI is gaining traction and being used more each and every day, we shouldn’t contribute to its use. We are a city that cares about art and creativity and humanity, all things that AI is not. AI seems like a simple, effective tool to make our lives easier, but it also makes us less sharp and will handicap us in the long run. I urge you to listen to those speaking up about the center and to explore within yourselves the ramifications of letting it be built. We do not need the AI data center here.

I want to believe that the County Consolidated Land Use Board would like to hear what the community has to say about the Bonner data center, but a public meeting space with a 30 person audience capacity puts a severe restriction on the number of participants that can attend. Maybe Krambu can rent out the Adams Center?

It’s insane to allow any project that consumes so much water in the drought driven west

I am adamantly opposed to this project. Our electric rates are already high with recently imposed peak rates because MEC cannot supply the power needed for the current demands and have to purchase power from Bonneville. This project will use electricity we do not have and once again raise rates. Please say no to this and any future similar requests.

I strongly oppose this project for all the many environmental impacts that inevitably come with the operation of a data center like this. This is not a sustainable or clean way to use our finite natural resources. Water should be used for growing food and giving life— not for fueling an industry that doesn’t have our community’s wellbeing in mind.

Oh boy! I cant wait to pay more in electricity and natural gas while some jerks from San Jose California aquire more capital. Not to mention that the ai data center model is a horribly bad business model and they are destined to fail in a few years. I hope the planning committee uses their brains for once and think critically. No one wants this. Its going to hurt the surrounding community and our natural resources.

Please see below. I am joining many concerned Missoulians who adamantly oppose this project!

As a resident of Missoula, I strongly oppose this. The proposed industrial use, including its equipment and operations, would negatively impact the nearby community and those impacts cannot be successfully mitigated or avoided. Any pollution from wastewater discharge impacting water quality near the confluence of The Blackfoot and Clark Fork River is unacceptable especially considering that it is a Superfund site. The noise, light, and water pollution will disrupt our community and the animals we share this land with. This will not provide jobs for our community since the facility is unstaffed instead it will just use our water and energy causing noise and light pollution with no benefit to the people who reside here.

I am 100% opposed to this project as 35 year resident of the areas. WE should not be building these data surveilance centers at all. WE do not need this kind of infrastructure. It does NOT benefit this community and the people living here or in this nation in any way. THEY DO NOT BENEFIT THIS COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY. That show be enough to shut this down. That should be all anyone needs to know. There is NO BENEFIT for us.

These surveillance centers present real health risks andhigher energy costs, They threaten energy stability and the cost will no doubt be transferred to consumers it always is. There are real pollution risks. This is especially keen to Missoula County as we have a precious aquifer that we should never be put at risk. Noise is a real concern as well. We all remember the bitcoin mine debacle.

Bottomline: There is no benefit for the people of Missoula County and instead it is a risk to our aquifer, general environment, and the health of all life in the area. NO! We do not want this!

This data center will hurt our local environment, community, and economy. Its massive environmental impact will affect the Clark Fork and other waterways, and will consume exorbitant amounts of water and energy, all while we are in a growing energy crisis and drought. It will hurt tourism, impact pedestrian and recreation paths, and severely impact communities in Bonner and East Missoula.

More importantly, however, we DO NOT WANT THIS. Data centers like this one extract data and information from communities without our informed consent, destroy the environment, and feed into big tech corporations that exploit labor and fund war and surveillance technologies in the US and abroad. It’s a terrible idea, and is not worth the cost. The AI and big data bubble is already bursting. Don’t sacrifice our communities for profit and surveillance. Do better by your community. With love, grow a fucking backbone.