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
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.
To the Missoula Consolidated Land Board
No to the special exception applications 1-2=3 and against data scenters that use a tremendous amount of electric power that will most likely cost home and small business owners and renters lots of money.
And also the effects to clean water, and the use of some sort of septic system that will treat used water.
Thank you
Garold Lazarowski
Montana is adamantly opposed to data centers. NO to the Krambu data center. No to rising energy prices, no to contaminated groundwater, and no to 24-hour noise pollution.
Can you guarantee that there will be no negative effects on the surrounding communities? Per the Montana state constitution, Article IX, "The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean, healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations. "
Is this going to be the next contamination clean-up site in Monatan?
I am opposed to the Krambu Data Center proposed for development at the Bonner Mill site. This is a clear NO in my mind. I see no benefit (and significant risk) for the local community and for Missoula County. The proposed center is a risk to the health and well-being of the Bonner community, the environment, and our water supply. Again, a clear NO. My question is why we are even considering this.
It took over a decade to clean up the contamination left by the Stimson cooling ponds. How long is it going to take to clean up the environmental disaster that this project will obviously leave us with? Krambu is going steal and poison our water, steal our power, and charge us for the privilege. Nobody wants this here. If the county has a shred of integrity they’ll block this.
Removed by moderator.
Removed by moderator.
This is highly inappropriate for our environment and residents. We don't need a data center! We are in a drought as it is, and they want to make it hotter, take our water from our river, and cause so many other issues that go along with data centers, for what? It's greedy. They should be ashamed of themselves for wanting to spoil such a beautiful place. A place that, mind you, is also on fire for two months and we need that river water? Crazy. We need the snow in the winter to help prevent fires as well, and data centers create so much heat, they literally change the weather. After this past winter, how can this even be a thought? And as for the residents, do you think we can afford our electricity bills to go up any higher than they already are? You put this in, I guarantee alot of the locals will move out. Montana isn't only for the rich! The rest of us matter too! It's too expensive right now! How about your resources go into helping fix that. A new Data center will only cause problems and from what I've seen, everyone opposes this. I will be highly disappointed if this goes through. That idea shouldve been squashed in March.
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This entire project should have been a "NOT IN MONTANA"!!! The answer is simple..... NO, NO, NO!!!! Most Missoula County residents do not want this project and do not need this Data Center for our benefit or in our backyard... so NO!! Our treasured Blackfoot River has been abused enough by home grown Montanans and outsiders for way too long. Could we once and for all stop abusing her with cooling centers for machines, gold mines and other nonsense. Is there any chance that once again we could protect our precious resources for future generations??? I do not know how anyone in favor of this can sleep at night taking on the burden of approving this proposed Data Center.... please explain that to me.
Removed by moderator.
I do not support this project. Our state is in the midst of the worst drought in history and Data Centers use enormous amounts. No thanks
Nooo. Please do not let a few wealthy people ruin our beautiful community. This is risky and the numbers already show they are misrepresenting the potential harm.