Bonner Data Center

In assessing the impact of data centers on neighboring homes, I would direct the Board to two resources. First, while the development of AI-specific data centers is relatively new, the development of Bitcoin mining centers and other data centers are not. Numerous lawsuits have dealt with the noise pollution and health impacts stemming from the 24/7 operation of high-powered computers. Notably, those lawsuits are sometimes filed against the government entity that approved the center, draining taxpayer resources. See:

Paulus v. Citicorp N. Am., Inc., No. 2:12-CV-856, 2014 WL 4557603, at *3 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 12, 2014) (noise complaints based on constant ambient noise of 36dBA and peak noise levels ranging from 47 dBA to 61 dBA)

Oak Valley Homeowners Ass'n, Inc. v. Prince William Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors, 85 Va. App. 382, 391, 917 S.E.2d 562, 566 (2025) (landowners challenging Board approval of data center that would increase noise levels to over 75 decibels)

North Tonawanda (New York) lawsuit against DigiX https://www.niagaraaction.com/north-tonawanda-crypto-mining-facility-moves-to-dismiss-court-action-over-noise-violations/ (data center cited multiple times for nighttime noise over 50 decibels, plaintiffs allege $250 fine per citation is not enough).

Dobler Engineering's Supplemental Information, provided May 5, 2026, suggest sound level emissions from a similar facility in WA emit 75.6 decibels within 2 feet, 69.9 decibels at 35 feet, and 64 decibels at 70 feet. They then estimate the sound levels at the property line (467 feet away from the noise generating equipment) will be 45 decibels. I have concerns regarding the accuracy of these estimates when applied to the Bonner site. I have further concerns that noise levels as low as 50 dba at night have been the subject of prior litigation.

Second, studies suggest the noise levels emitted from data centers harm neighbors' health: https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/communities-are-raising-noise-pollution-concernsabout-data-centers.

Wealth and power is fueling a massive expansion in energy and water demand.
The water demands of data centers are immense, threatening the local water supplies that are vital for both community needs a basic necessitie. Even when they say that they have a way to save water, the trade off then becomes using more electricity.
These centers contribute to the formation of "heat domes," which can drastically alter the local climate, making the areas inhospitable driving away wildlife.
And the false promise of these data centers jobs. Developers say this because they know that it is attractive to policymakers; they come asking the state to give them benefits in the form of tax breaks, reduced regulations, or special zoning permissions in exchange for job creation. Construction may last a year.
Staff for these centers are very low. It's will be a warehouse of servers.
And the taxs breaks they will be given is a plus for them only.
The construction of data centers on these lands is not just a threat to the environment; it’s a disruption to a delicate ecosystem. Data centers require significant amounts of electricity, putting an undue strain on our power supply and leading to increased rates for local.
We need to prevent further environmental damage.
The only winners of these data centers are the ones
Who want to put them all across America.
I among many oppose this data center.

Montanans do NOT want this! It would be the downfall of our beautiful town. Nothing good comes from this!!!

Data centers are nothing but harmful for everyone and everything involved!! No one wants higher electric bills, no one wants damage to these ecosystems, no one wants data centers using up our resources. It will only harm our beautiful state. Think of the people and the planet, not billionaires who want to exploit us!

AI data centers sound exciting until you realize what they actually bring to a place like Missoula: massive water use, huge power demand, noise, light pollution, and strain on local infrastructure — all so big tech companies can profit while locals deal with higher utility pressure and environmental impacts. Missoula’s appeal is clean rivers, open land, wildlife, and quality of life, not industrial-scale server warehouses consuming enormous amounts of energy 24/7. Once developments like this move in, they rarely stay small.

As someone who was born and raised here, this would ruin our town. The beautiful river that runs through our town will soon dry up if we allow things like this. The wildlife will suffer as well.

This data center will not benefit our community. It creates little to no jobs and will take up resources that could potentially eliminate the things we love most about Montana. There was just one in GA caught stealing 29MILLION gallons of water…locals water pressure affected and not to mention energy prices went up. Montana has already been affected with the housing market the way it is. This is not good for us and I hope you listen to these voices in the comments. WE DO NOT WANT THIS.

I’m amazed at how Montana is late to the party on everything, sees the detriment things like data centers are doing to other locations/states, and then STILL are proposing to join the madness despite all the negatives. There are far too many cons to make this even considerable. Many wonderfully educated public commenters on here bring up great points that NEED to be read.

Montanans do NOT support this. We do not need temporary jobs that impact the ecosystem so poorly and extremely, in one of the final remaining places where we don’t submit to corporate corruption at the expense of the environment, our earth, our HOME. This is a waste of resources (energy, water) and going to impact our state in the long run, and not for the better. DO NOT allow a data center. Montanans do NOT want it. Montanans do NOT need it. And our earth deserves someone caring about it when no one else will. 100% oppose!!!!!

This data center will use freshwater resources which are already low, raise the cost of electricity bills for locals, and contribute to a growing oppressive technological advancement. We as local Missoulians and folks in Bonner need to oppose this at all costs.

Let's use this energy, money, and water for a green energy transition instead.

It would be devastating to our Montana ecosystem to allow a data center in Montana. There may be construction jobs initially but after that they require very little maintenance and use extraordinary amounts of water and energy to power the facility. This will damage our power grid and increase utilities. Also the damage to the Blackfoot River could be profound and is definitely not worth it. They also admit a noise that would affect the community and surrounding wildlife. I am absolutely against data centers in Montana.

This project is proposed by Idaho company Krambu that wants to build an AI data center at the old Bonner Mill Industrial Park, 9314 Bonner Mill Rd. It would start at 29 MW and could grow to 100 MW over 2-3 years. That’s enough power for 20,000-100,000 homes.

Pros for Bonner/Missoula County

1. Jobs + wages
- Construction phase brings significant employment
- Permanent jobs pay above average for Montana. A couple hundred good jobs “can’t be ignored” although I seriously doubt that many jobs will be created.
- Krambu says they’re building “next innovation” systems which is great just build it in Idaho instead.

2. Tax revenue
- Data centers are “giant structures full of electronics” with high value
- Can generate revenue without huge demands on schools/roads
- NorthWestern Energy says data centers help diversify and grow Montana’s economy which it may however what is the negative to Big Sky Country

3. Infrastructure upgrades
- Krambu plans heat capture in closed-loop system for aquaponics/greenhouses
- Hundreds of miles of fiber conduit would improve telecom for schools, healthcare. CFO: benefits “whole community”
- Uses existing industrial site — 900 acres of former mill land

4. Lower cost to operate here
- BBER economist: “probably a little less costly to operate here, and maybe somewhat less resistant”
- Meta already pulls power from Pryor Mountain Wind for out-of-state facilities

Cons for Bonner/Missoula County

1. Power + your electric bill
- NorthWestern plans to supply 400-1000+ MW to MT data centers — >50% increase in demand
- Environmental groups: “costs will be borne by everyday ratepayers”
- Oregon example: data center growth = 50% higher electric bills in 5 years
- PSC President: need special rate so they “pay their fair share” and don’t “bleed back on customers”

2. Water concerns
- Typical data center uses 300,000 gallons/day. MEIC: one center can use 5 million gal/day
- Krambu says 500 gallons per MW = 50,000 gal/day at full 100 MW. They claim same as old saw mill
- Locals worry: “Montana is in a drought, expected to get worse”. Common sense says: “fire season is going to need all the water we can get”
- MEIC: concern about discharging hot/chemically harmful water into rivers or groundwater that farmers use

3. Few permanent jobs
- Krambu told county it will NOT require regular staffing once built
- Table: “Jobs may be fewer than expected”
- Most jobs are construction, not long-term

4. Noise, traffic, environment
- 2017 HyperBlock crypto mine at same site: residents complained of constant hum disrupting sleep
- Project is 500 ft from residential + near elementary school, church
- Must go through “special exception review” for traffic, noise, lighting
- Data centers prone to fires — Ohio: 84 fire calls in 1 year

5. Tax breaks
- Data centers get 0.9% property tax rate — lowest in MT
- HB 424 extends that to power plants for data centers
- MEIC: unlikely to cover true costs to community. Won’t provide much jobs long-term.

Bonner-specific issues
1. Community pushback: 140+ public comments, nearly all are opposed. “NO! We do not want this!”
2. Zoning: Falls under crypto mining rules from 2019. Must use new renewable energy + recycle e-waste
3. Lack of trust: Public meeting had “many questions going unanswered”. Worry it won’t stay within energy limits
4. Water source not disclosed for other MT projects. Risk to Canyon Ferry drinking water.

The bottom line is:

If protections work: A few good jobs, tax money, fiber upgrades, using old mill site. Krambu’s heat-capture plan is innovative but notice it is not planned in Idaho but in Montana.

If protections fail: Higher power bills, strain on Blackfoot River/aquifer during drought, noise by the school, 100 MW of power for a building with no staff, and locals subsidizing of Big Tech.

Montana PSC is meeting on this with a public hearing was July 1.

Majestic and beautifully made communities still deserve clean water and fair power bills. Vote No data centers in Montana.

Unacceptable. People dream of coming to Montana for its wilderness and beauty. We, famously, have rejected pointless and crippling things that modernize just for the sake of ease. Missoulians work hard to maintain a way of life that honors the natural world and our independence from a world that rewards assimilation at the cost of integrity.

Our state is famous for not tolerating cowards! A data center is a disgusting bid to ingratiate ourselves area to developers and people who seek to carve us up for profit.

I vehemently oppose the approval of a data center anywhere in MT. I have been a resident of this beautiful state for over 20 years, and I shudder to think of our lands being used to support billionaire agendas and feed off of the backs of hardworking people. This data center would ruin everything that we stand for as conservationists and stewards of the land. Clean water is essential for HUMAN life, not a computer. I urge the council to see that their decision affects Missoula, and goes as far as affecting our entire country. Do not allow this data center to be built.

As a born and raised Missoulian, I can not oppose this data center enough. Missoula is already drought-stressed enough as is, and can not afford to waste our precious water on a data center. Please, for the love of our environment, our community, and our health, oppose this proposal.

As a Missoula Montana resident I strongly oppose the building of the Bonner data center. The energy, water ( even if it’s from the fire well), other unknown environmental hazards, and the precedent of data centers as a productive use of space is not in our communities interest. Please listen to your constituents who overwhelmingly oppose the Bonner data center!!!

Absolutely not!!

As a Missoula county resident, nature lover, and parent I strongly oppose this application, for our generation and all those to follow. There is no benefit to our community and we can create something much more generative and sustainable with this space.

I am vehemently opposed to a data center in Bonner for a lot of reasons. The health of nearby residents, the cost of the power and the excessive use of OUR WATER is outrageous. With no apparent benefit to anyone except Northwestern Energy and the out of staters who are trying to push this through.
There are hardly any added jobs. The threat to our environment is substantial and our constitution guarantees us the right to clean air and WATER.
The vibration that will be created will make people sick. The bitcoin mine was a disaster and this will be worse. Do not allow this to happen!!!

I emphatically urge the members of the MCCLUB to respond to this application with a resounding NO, NO, NO! The multitude of reasons why this is a very bad idea have already been posted via the many prior comments here. At the very least, Missoula County citizens should be allowed to vote on this before its approval is rammed down our throats.

this is a definite NO.
Besides the vast increases in electrical bills and water consumption used by the station, which will of course not only impact local missoula residents but also the wildlife, deteriorating the beauty of the area, the data center will emit large concentrations of infrasound which has been scientifically documented to cause vast amounts of negative health effects, biological and mechanical stress on a human body. The decibel level of this noise is below the level of human hearing but has been tested and recorded numerous times in recent years by specialized recording equipment and researchers have shown with well-documented peer-reviewed evidence that chronic exposure to infrasound causes~
Cardiovascular Strain: Controlled studies show that intense infrasound can interfere with human myocardial contractility (the ability of the heart muscle to pump).
Organ Resonance: Some frequencies of infrasound resonate with human body cavities. This can induce severe intestinal pain, chest vibration, and general disorientation.
Cellular and Tissue Damage: Prolonged exposure at high intensities can induce oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammatory responses.
Vestibular & Auditory Disturbances: Can trigger a sensation of ear pressure, nausea, and dizziness or vertigo. Infrasound is known to directly stimulate inner ear sensory cells.
Sleep Disturbances: Documented insomnia, reduced sleep quality, and general agitation.
Psychological Strain: Heightened irritability, difficulties with concentration, mood changes, and chronic subjective annoyance.
Headaches: A frequently reported physical symptom frequently linked to low-frequency noise.

If folks want more data centers, or want to get rich off them, build them next to golf courses, other sites of exorbitant wealth (where the environment has already been sacrificed), or NEXT TO THE HOMES OF THOSE WHO OWN AND ARE MONETARILY BENEFITING FROM THEM, so they can deal with their health deteriorating instead of us. Why should we be responsible for the mess and trash of the rich? Let them deal with their own consequences for a change please.
thanks

I am against a data center for many reasons: the heavy impact on water, the environment. These centers require millions of gallons of water, which is an obvious hazard, especially with the growth we are seeing. There is noise pollution, health risks. Just because we are a big state does not mean we Need to fill it with terrible ideas and infrastructure. No, out of state company, we don't want your data center. You obviously don't care about the environment, the community, nor the big picture. We don't need AI date centers. This is not a good future.