Bonner Data Center
Update: Missoula County received the following message from Mike Heisey, who owns the building the proposed data center would be in:
"After hearing from the public and understanding what the concerns are, I have decided to withdraw my signature from the Krambu special exception application. Bonner Property will not be moving forward with the data center proposed by them. We appreciate the public's feedback and will continue to actively pursue clients for the mill site. Thank you. Mike Heisey"
This development means the project will not move forward.
Missoula County is reviewing a proposed data center at 9314 Bonner Miller Road as a Special Exception described in Section 11.6.D. of the Missoula County Zoning Regulations. The property is zoned for heavy industrial use.
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 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: Missoula County has requested more information
Application status: Fifth 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.
June 1, 2026: Fifth Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
- The applicant submitted a special exception application. County staff determined that more information was needed before public review could begin.
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.
Let us know what you think by logging in or creating an account and submitting your comment below.
Update: Missoula County received the following message from Mike Heisey, who owns the building the proposed data center would be in:
"After hearing from the public and understanding what the concerns are, I have decided to withdraw my signature from the Krambu special exception application. Bonner Property will not be moving forward with the data center proposed by them. We appreciate the public's feedback and will continue to actively pursue clients for the mill site. Thank you. Mike Heisey"
This development means the project will not move forward.
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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June 1 - Fifth Special Exception Application - deemed incomplete
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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
I’m Breeann Adam, and I’m expressing my opposition to the data center proposal.
I live in a nearby residential property. For many years, I’ve lived here with my family. I also work in this community, including 11 years as a special education teacher at Bonner School. Here in Bonner, I live, work, go to church, recreate, and raise my children. In short, this is my home in every way, so this issue matters to me.
The review for the data center that will be considered by the county is focused on whether the proposed use, including the center’s equipment and operations, would be compatible with nearby residential properties, like mine.
Recently, I read the bylaws that govern MCCLUB. They are posted online, for anyone wondering.
The first line of the bylaws directly quotes: “The purpose of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board is to fulfill Missoula County’s obligations under Montana Law to promote the orderly development of land and protect public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of its communities.”
This data center proposal is contradictory and clearly not compatible with the stated county bylaws or nearby residential properties. Constructing this center would not support orderly development of land. This data center would extensively violate and diminish our community’s public health, safety, morals, and welfare. Pollution, noise, waste, and fire risk are just a few of many problems. This center would negatively affect me, my family, our home, the community, and environment.
A lot can be said about this issue, but I request that this council and the decision-making board recognize this is a simple choice. Either choose to follow your own bylaws thereby rejecting the proposal or choose not to. These bylaws that govern the board should make the right choice obvious and clear. Follow your own bylaws, and you won’t approve this data center.
This proposal must be swiftly and decisively rejected. Thank you.
At What Cost?
Noise that will have a contant humming from cooling systems, generators can disrupt sleep, daily life, and wildlife in surrounding neighborhoods.
Growing demand strains local resources and infrastructure, often outpacing community planning capacity.
E-Waste Frequent hardware upgrades and replacements generate significant volumes of electronic waste.
Water usage for cooling systems often require substantial water resources straining local water supplies and ecosystems.
Then they are given Tax Deals at the expense of are infrastructure.
Electric use the hidden costs.
https://youtu.be/YN6BEUA4jNU?si=dx14kDgpiT13ak1k
https://youtu.be/jjkaYyysYhA?si=xbcAdtFOZ_kNL5Bt
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Dear Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
As a Missoula resident, I am writing to express my immense opposition to the proposed Krambu AI data center occupying 9314 Bonner Mill Road, and implore you to not approve their Special Exception Request.
If the question posed here is whether or not the center will be compatible with nearby residential properties, there is no world in which the answer would be yes.
The noise alone generated from these centers as a result of running cooling systems is, in my opinion, the definition of residential incompatibility. Considering the fact that these facilities will be running 24/7, residents will have absolutely no escape from the noise, which would extend anywhere from 2 to 5 miles. I feel it is also imperative to mention that students at The Bonner School would also be subjected to this noise, which would be a major disruption to their learning environment.
Additionally, as we've seen with similar facilities, this center has the potential to increase residential energy bills which would in no way positively impact the lives of residents in the area.
Additionally, as someone who primarily works in tourism in Missoula, I can not think of a single action that would ruin one of our most pertinent sources of income more.
The hum from the data center would without a doubt be heard from The Kettlehouse Amphitheater as it would only be two miles away. This would permanently affect the sound quality of one of Missoula's premiere music venues, which is arguably the most important aspect.
Any waste distributed into our waterways would also permanently damage a crucial feature of Missoula's landscape. Irrevocable environmental impacts aside, are tourists from out of town really going to want to go out of their way to recreate in polluted water? I sure wouldn't. If tourists aren't coming to Missoula, that eliminates a lot of jobs, and a lot of outside income.
It seems absurd to approve a facility that will not directly benefit Missoula residents in any conceivable way, especially since they will be the ones directly affected by it. This new data center isn't even proposing to bring in new job opportunities to a city that desperately needs them.
I implore you again to not approve this special request. This center is guaranteed to be a public nuisance, and directly impact Missoula's economy for the worse.
Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I am a recent graduate from the University of Montana, and school is the reason why I moved to Missoula. I thought my time here would be temporary, but Missoula has turned permanent; I now consider Missoula my second home. I have spent the last four years studying environmental science and exploring Western Montana. Despite differing political and religious beliefs, I’ve observed that our community members support healthy wildlife populations, strong fisheries, and a balanced well-functioning ecosystem. The combination of my experiences has made it very clear that Missoula County values the environment.
Sense of place is a concept that geographers and planners use to describe the connection we have to our built and natural landscape. In a more modern and simplistic term, I would describe a community's sense of place as the “vibe”. While this may seem trivial, I think it is important to reflect on the connection residents have to the landscape and how a data center might change this. Missoula county is a unique place. It is surrounded by public land, nestled between wilderness areas, and is in the aboriginal territories of Salish, Kootenai, and Kalispel people. A data center does not belong in Missoula County.
Despite meeting the correct zoning code, a data center would directly oppose the county mission statement of providing “quality public service to protect and enhance the well-being of the people, communities and environment of Missoula County”. The county states they will achieve this goal by valuing integrity, community, innovation, and teamwork. The Krambu data center would neglect all of the characteristics the county claims to value.
Right now we know that data centers use a lot of water and electricity, but do not require a lot of labor. By introducing a data center we are allowing Montana’s resources to be exploited for the benefit of Krambu rather than the local community. The board has a duty to protect Missoula County from the pressures imposed by large corporations. This proposal follows a pattern of development in Montana that extracts and exploits. Krambu has no interest in supporting our community, and will leave members struggling to pay for basic needs like utilities and water.
Decline the proposal for the Krambu data center in Bonner.
Montanan here. There are many things wrong with the Bonner Data center. Montana is supposed to be a place where you get away from all the city, big corporate stuff. They're already building enough. Please no!
A GIANT "NO" TO A DATA CENTER IN BONNER, MONTANA. Water usage is not compatible. Stop catering to wealthy tech corporations looking to make more money through the latest boom while the rest of us deal with the carnage. Stand up for what Montana already has which is clean water, healthy rivers, a reliable, healthy economy that comes from the clean water and healthy rivers. Don't sell out the citizens of a great state. NO on the Bonner Data Center.
Dear Members of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I am a Montanan that has lived here for most of my life and have spent my last 4 years in Missoula. I spent some other time in states like Virginia or Alaska, but there truly is no other state like Montana. I grew up learning to treasure the nature that surrounds us in this state. Hiking, fishing, biking, trail running, and more are only doable here because of how the land has been protected so far. There is a terrifying trend of out of touch politicians failing to protect the land that makes Montana the amazing place it is. Due to the immense ecological impacts and the exploitation of Missoula citizen’s land from an out of state company, I am writing in strong opposition to the proposed AI data center development in Bonner.
One of the biggest concerns of this project is the water usage and the thermal pollution that will come to operate a large data center. This directly threatens the Blackfoot River which is already under strain from other damaging policies. This river also connects to the Clark Fork which spreads around most of Montana.
Not only this but the proposed economic benefits are drastically overstated by Krambu. We are not going to be seeing a vast number of jobs created. We will see power and water usage on obscene levels. I also dislike the precedent this sets that Montana can be pushed around and destroy our land for out of state corporations. If it approve this data center it shows that our state can be bought out for future data centers. We need to make sure we stop bending over for corporations that don’t even understand the land they are destroying.
I beg those in power to hear the concerns of their constituents. The long-term environmental impacts of this proposal desperately need to be considered. I also urge voters to think about their own children and grand children. I was lucky enough to grow up in a state where I could spend my summers floating and kayaking rivers, see animals like deer and elk all over, and explore the natural beauty of our state. Please don’t take those opporitunites away from your citizens, yourself, and all the future generations just to appease an out of state corporation.
For all these reason I must oppose the Krambu AI data center proposal in Bonner.
Dear Members of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I am a Montanan that has lived here for most of my life and have spent my last 4 years in Missoula. I spent some other time in states like Virginia or Alaska, but there truly is no other state like Montana. I grew up learning to treasure the nature that surrounds us in this state. Hiking, fishing, biking, trail running, and more are only doable here because of how the land has been protected so far. There is a terrifying trend of out of touch politicians failing to protect the land that makes Montana the amazing place it is. Due to the immense ecological impacts and the exploitation of Missoula citizen’s land from an out of state company, I am writing in strong opposition to the proposed AI data center development in Bonner.
One of the biggest concerns of this project is the water usage and the thermal pollution that will come to operate a large data center. This directly threatens the Blackfoot River which is already under strain from other damaging policies. This river also connects to the Clark Fork which spreads around most of Montana.
Not only this but the proposed economic benefits are drastically overstated by Krambu. We are not going to be seeing a vast number of jobs created. We will see power and water usage on obscene levels. I also dislike the precedent this sets that Montana can be pushed around and destroy our land for out of state corporations. If it approve this data center it shows that our state can be bought out for future data centers. We need to make sure we stop bending over for corporations that don’t even understand the land they are destroying.
I beg those in power to hear the concerns of their constituents. The long-term environmental impacts of this proposal desperately need to be considered. I also urge voters to think about their own children and grand children. I was lucky enough to grow up in a state where I could spend my summers floating and kayaking rivers, see animals like deer and elk all over, and explore the natural beauty of our state. Please don’t take those opporitunites away from your citizens, yourself, and all the future generations just to appease an out of state corporation.
For all these reason I must oppose the Krambu AI data center proposal in Bonner.
Removed by moderator.
Our most precious resource is water, not AI.
I beg of you to reject this AI data center. We are community built on being stewards of our outdoor trails and rivers. The noise pollution, water pollution and diverting of our energy and water resources will be permanent and as other data centers have shown, will grow exponentially. These data centers often under estimate by huge amounts just to get approved and then pillage the resources. As the last best place, we cannot succumb to big tech abusing our land and resources. Mother Earth deserves better! If we don't fight for the future of the land, who will? It will be too late. You must stop this!!!!
The Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers have already had enough negative effects caused by human indifference. But to defile our county and state by putting a data center on the banks of either of these rivers would be a travesty. We have seen what these centers emit into their respective environments. They are destructive and destroy the environments in which they are placed. Montanans are aware that we live in the last best place, and we will not allow these foreign agents come into our communities and poison our lives. Please find it within yourselves to ensure that this center is not allowed to be built on the banks of our waters. Keep Montana pristine, beautiful, and untouched by corporate interests.
Hello,
The Missoula County community clearly has no interest in a data center housed anywhere in the community, specifically in Bonner. I strongly encourage the board to reject this project and any future projects related to data centers in our community.
The Blackfoot and Clark Fork rivers are the life blood of Missoula and its community members. For anglers, floaters, pets and wildlife, these rivers are sacred.
We cannot allow this data center to be built by a billionaire who has no consideration for the importance of these rivers in our community. This decision will affect the daily lives of every single person in the community of Missoula and Bonner alike and the only person who stands to benefit from it being built is the CEO.
Please consider the lives of our community members and wildlife in your decision to say NO to the Bonner Data Center.
Dear Members of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I have read through many comments here that I feel truly express most of your constituents concerns: noise, quality of life for nearby residents, water use and environmental impacts, and concerns about what happens when promises and guarantees are inevitably not held due to ease, convenience, and profit.
If I had time, I'd include all the details of my concerns others have expressed.
But I am a busy toddler mom, in your neighboring state, downstream of your water system.
Locally North Idaho bodies of water are already under pressure from local development, mining ventures, and changes in weather patterns. My ask of the board is to please deeply consider the reaching impact this decision will make not just to the people that get a true vote in your system, but to those of us that live out of town, out of county, and out of state that feel helpless in affecting your decision.
I love the area I grew up in because of its raw beauty. That is slowly disappearing. We already have to test our children for lead if they choose to swim in our local waters. Adding an industry as resource consuming as a potentially ever growing data center would have irreversible effects on the local environment and beyond.
I am not interested in hearing or accepting mitigation efforts. Prevention is the best cure.
I hope to be able to see my child and his future children enjoy Idaho, Montana, and Washington as I have. Thank you for considering your close neighbors input
Dear Members of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I have read through many comments here that I feel truly express most of your constituents concerns: noise, quality of life for nearby residents, water use and environmental impacts, and concerns about what happens when promises and guarantees are inevitably not held due to ease, convenience, and profit.
If I had time, I'd include all the details of my concerns others have expressed.
But I am a busy toddler mom, in your neighboring state, downstream of your water system.
Locally North Idaho bodies of water are already under pressure from local development, mining ventures, and changes in weather patterns. My ask of the board is to please deeply consider the reaching impact this decision will make not just to the people that get a true vote in your system, but to those of us that live out of town, out of county, and out of state that feel helpless in affecting your decision.
I love the area I grew up in because of its raw beauty. That is slowly disappearing. We already have to test our children for lead if they choose to swim in our local waters. Adding an industry as resource consuming as a potentially ever growing data center would have irreversible effects on the local environment and beyond.
I am not interested in hearing or accepting mitigation efforts. Prevention is the best cure.
I hope to be able to see my child and his future children enjoy Idaho, Montana, and Washington as I have. Thank you for considering your close neighbors input.
Dear Members of the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board,
I am a Missoula citizen who has lived here on and off throughout my life and keep coming back because of my great love of the landscape that Montana gives us--the wild, untouched, untamed, outdoors.
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Krambu AI data center development in Bonner, Montana.
While technological innovation and economic development can bring benefits, they should never come at the expense of our community’s natural resources and long-term environmental health. One of my primary concerns regarding this project is the significant demand for water required to operate and cool large-scale AI data centers.
Water is one of western Montana’s most valuable and limited resources. The potential for substantial water withdrawal raises serious questions about long-term sustainability, especially as our region faces increasing pressures from drought, climate variability, population growth, and competing demands on local water systems.
Beyond quantity, water quality is equally important. Industrial-scale facilities carry risks related to wastewater management, thermal impacts, infrastructure strain, and accidental contamination. Residents should not be asked to accept uncertainty regarding impacts to local groundwater, rivers, fisheries, or drinking water resources.
Bonner and the greater Missoula area are defined by clean water, healthy ecosystems, and outdoor resources that support our quality of life, local recreation, and regional economy. These assets cannot be easily restored once compromised. Development decisions of this scale must prioritize environmental stewardship and community well-being over short-term economic promises.
I urge decision-makers to fully evaluate the long-term environmental impacts of this proposal, particularly regarding water consumption and water quality, and to proceed with extreme caution. Our water resources are too important to risk without thorough analysis, transparency, and meaningful public input.
For these reasons, I strongly oppose the Krambu AI data center proposal in Bonner.
At what cost?
https://youtu.be/t-8TDOFqkQA?si=D-Eeg8FxC4mJqqdm