Krambu’s Bonner Data Center Sparks Resource Concerns in Missoula, Montana

Krambu’s proposed Bonner data center could demand up to 29 megawatts and raise local resource concerns.

The Idaho-based company has submitted an application for a facility in the Bonner Industrial Park, marking the first data center project under Missoula County’s 2021 regulations. This development highlights the growing tension between economic opportunities and environmental constraints in Montana’s evolving tech infrastructure.

The application calls for cooling towers up to 17 feet high, initially using about 7 megawatts with potential expansion to 29 megawatts over two to three years. The facility may eventually scale to 100 megawatts depending on market conditions. County rules require renewable energy use and electronic waste recycling, though specifics of compliance remain unclear. The proposal faces scrutiny over water consumption, energy demand, and transparency, as expressed by panelists including environmental advocates and local planners. A hearing by the Missoula County Consolidated Land Use Board is scheduled for July 1 to address impacts like noise, traffic, and lighting.

As Montana debates this project, its rural character and resource limitations could shape how data centers integrate with local infrastructure, potentially influencing energy rates and water availability for communities accustomed to lower industrial demands.

Water, energy, land use: Missoula data center proposal prompts questions
By Katie Fairbanks, Montana Free Press