Brian Miller stated that Quantica's claim of 20,000 gallons of water usage for a data center is a completely fictitious number.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVH (opens in a new tab).
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
Brian Miller, Democratic congressional candidate, has called for stricter regulations on data center construction and accused the industry of not being transparent about its plans.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVH (opens in a new tab).
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
Brian Miller is the attorney for Yellowstone County Voices, a citizens' group trying to bring a ballot measure to require voter approval for data center projects in Yellowstone County.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVH (opens in a new tab).
Archived copy: Wayback Machine (opens in a new tab).
Jeff Pattison, Republican candidate for Montana PSC District 1, says data centers should pay to play or pay their own way
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Primary source: Montana Public Radio (opens in a new tab).
Angeline Cheek, Democrat candidate for Montana PSC District 1, wants to lower power bills and ensure rules for data centers before approval, with transparency on rates
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Primary source: Montana Public Radio (opens in a new tab).
Kim Lundgren, a consultant on data centers for municipalities, states supply is outpacing demand
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: thegazette.com (opens in a new tab).
John Mayer, Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, representing initiative organizers, requested supplemental ballots be printed for all electors.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Primary source: YPR (opens in a new tab).
Montana Supreme Court determined that allowing an initiative to fail due to retroactive deadline change is greater harm than approving it and having it potentially overturned later
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: newsfromthestates.com (opens in a new tab).
Nearly 75% of registered Montana voters oppose data centers in their city or neighboring county
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KSEN AM 1150 (opens in a new tab).
92% of registered Montana voters say the state should create regulations to limit data center impact on electricity prices
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KSEN AM 1150 (opens in a new tab).
Democrats in Montana are more likely to be strongly opposed to new data centers than independent voters or Republicans, but opposition was considerable across party lines
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: bozemandailychronicle.com (opens in a new tab).
City staff first proposed allowing up to 10 percent of a new development to include a data center without triggering a lengthy rezone request that would need Missoula City Council approval.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Billings Gazette (opens in a new tab).
Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito advised commissioners against implementing interim zoning to pause the project, stating any action to stop the data center project would trigger a lawsuit and possibly hefty fines for county taxpayers.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
Anne Hedges, Montana Environmental Information Center executive director, called poll results a red flag
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
NorthWestern Energy said it is in conversation with at least 11 data center developers
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoula Current (opens in a new tab).
NorthWestern Energy associate general counsel Mike Green stated that preventing any cost shifting is not realistic
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoula Current (opens in a new tab).
Data center moratoria and support have become a defining issue on the midterm campaign trail
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoulian (opens in a new tab).
Seth Bodnar, Democrat like independent in Montana Senate race, said he was strongly opposed to anything that happens to Montana communities without their involvement
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoulian (opens in a new tab).
Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez introduced federal legislation to pause all new data centers until strong national safeguards are in place
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoulian (opens in a new tab).
Democratic candidate Brian Miller serving as legal counsel for citizens challenging Quantica Infrastructure development in Yellowstone County
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Dr. Mike Eisenhauer proposes 5 Pillar policy requiring closed loop cooling, protecting ratepayers and workers, and letting each community have final say
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Evan Barrett of 406 People First stated the power of initiative is protected in Montana Constitution and deadline change impeded their rights
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Rep. Troy Downing says data centers can bring investment but decisions should be made by communities, federal government should take light touch approach, and Montana's senior water rights must be protected
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Patrick McCracken says most people would not want to live next door to a data center and communities need to make decisions on resource use and impacts
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
"If built, it will cover 5,000 acres, require seven times more electricity than is currently needed for all of Montana, and get water for cooling from no one knows where."
Context & source notes
Provenance: Quoted; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Setting: Daily Inter Lake guest opinion column.
Primary source: Daily Inter Lake (opens in a new tab).
Hyperscale Data will continue cryptocurrency mining at its Montana site
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: ForkLog (opens in a new tab).
Brian Miller, Democratic candidate for Montana's Eastern Congressional District, represented opponents of the Broadview project
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Democratic Senate candidate Alani Bankhead called for a moratorium on large data center development until impacts to communities can be better studied
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Democratic candidate Sam Forstag supports data centers only if companies generate own power, use efficient water systems, and ensure union jobs
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: easternprogress.com (opens in a new tab).
Independent Senate candidate Seth Bodnar issued a six point pledge on AI and data centers including giving communities final say on data center development
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
President Trump criticized communities for opposing data centers on social media
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Republican candidate Aaron Flint opposes all out ban citing national security concerns about data going to China and Russia
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: easternprogress.com (opens in a new tab).
Republican Senate candidate Kurt Alme said local governments need to consider potential harms through electricity rates and water impacts and that these are ultimately local community decisions
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Candidate Al Olszewski supports nationwide moratorium or Montana specific ban on data center development
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: easternprogress.com (opens in a new tab).
Libertarian Senate candidate Kyle Austin stated he is completely against data centers in Montana until there is transparency
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Kurt Alme, Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former U.S. Attorney from Billings, called the suggestion that he's hiding from voters 'desperate campaign talk' and refused to say anything on the topic
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Billings Gazette (opens in a new tab).
President Donald Trump, data centers have become a ready proxy for economic grievances held by voters who believe industry driven wealth is corrupting communities and politics
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Billings Gazette (opens in a new tab).
Seth Bodnar, independent U.S. Senate candidate, claims only an independent can solve the data center debate
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Billings Gazette (opens in a new tab).
Elijah Tidswell, write in candidate, stated that Zolnikov is passing bills that help data centers massively and that nearly 15,000 people signed a petition wanting a voice in the data center process, but were ignored.
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
Projects could bring road improvements and more business for local restaurants and services
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Contractors used a hyperscale data center project in North Dakota as an example of construction impacts
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Nathan Wood, executive vice president of McGough Construction, said the goal was to avoid overrunning community capacity and noted that facilities with recreation amenities and food services on campus are a great option
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Construction concerns included more traffic, temporary worker housing, dust and pressure on local infrastructure
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Developers often worked with local leaders before construction began on traffic routes, housing availability and ways to limit impacts
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Community leaders and contractors discussed how large scale data centers could affect nearby towns; communities near Missoula and Billings were being considered for future large scale facilities
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Judge Joseph appears to side with county, ruling equitable estoppel does not apply to legal deadline matters, citing precedent from Yellowstone County case
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: montanarightnow.com (opens in a new tab).
Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board chairman Floyd Azure stated the board was concerned data centers could harm the reservation and its natural resources
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Data Center Dynamics (opens in a new tab).
Yellowstone County Commission Chair Mark Morse said idea of placing moratorium on ballot would need to be discussed at board's discussion meetings before it could move to regular business agenda for a vote
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Primary source: The Cool Down (opens in a new tab).
Attorney John Meyer argued Montana Code 13-28-206 is unconstitutional because it does not facilitate the people's constitutional power of initiative
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KBZK News (opens in a new tab).
Commissioner Mark Morse stated county does not have authority to impose emergency interim zoning
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
State Senator Ellie Boldman introduced a bill draft request to ban large scale data centers statewide for the 2027 Montana legislature session
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Missoula Current (opens in a new tab).
406 People First submitted 4,500+ petition signatures on July 31, 2026
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KBZK News (opens in a new tab).
Azure said when the tribes asked companies what benefits they would bring, the companies did not have an answer
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
Tribal Executive Board member Roxanne Gourneau said Fort Peck historically struggled with acquiring clean, drinkable water due to contamination and cannot compromise water and environment with data centers
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
Also reported by: Data Center Dynamics (opens in a new tab) trade press .
Said again: August 20, 2026 ( Data Center Dynamics (opens in a new tab) trade press ).
Fort Peck Tribal Chairman Floyd Azure said three different companies approached the tribe interested in building data centers in the last year
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: Montana Free Press (opens in a new tab).
Judge Ed Zink wrote it was regrettable that county officials gave Solberg wrong deadline but error not enough to overturn county decision
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; content date; reported from elsewhere.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
Kassi Solberg reported being accosted by sheriff deputies who restrained her with handcuffs
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
Katie Harrison, a volunteer with Yellowstone County Voices, reported that a security guard repeatedly told her to move and change position while collecting signatures
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
Sheriff Kent O'Donnell stated that signature gatherers were removed for their actions and that one person put physical hands on a deputy
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
Kassi Solberg of Yellowstone County Voices stated the commissioners are trying to push the Quantica AI data center through without the consensus of the people
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: KTVQ (opens in a new tab).
J.P. Gallagher is Butte Silver Bow chief executive
Context & source notes
Provenance: Paraphrased; said in the source itself.
Primary source: NBC Montana (opens in a new tab).