What we’re calling for, and why.
“A two-year moratorium on approval of any large-scale data center or industrial facility consuming 20 megawatts or more of electricity, during which developers must provide verified third-party impact studies and detailed community plans, and the Montana Legislature must establish an enforceable regulatory framework protecting ratepayers, workers, and local communities.”
Two years gives Montana time to conduct rigorous, independent studies on water use, grid capacity, community effects, and economic trade-offs — before approval, not after the damage is already done.
Two years is not forever. It's a credible, fast runway that tells innovators and investors: "We want the right growth — and we're moving quickly to build the conditions for it." Montana is not closing the door. It's building a better one.
Investors, utilities, communities, and developers all benefit from clear rules. The pause creates the regulatory certainty that makes long-term, sustainable investment viable — instead of the "approve now, deal with consequences later" approach that has hurt other states.
Virginia, Idaho, and others have experienced firsthand the costs of letting hyperscale development outpace regulation. Montana can learn from their experience — instead of repeating their mistakes.
“Data center” can mean very different things — a hospital’s server room, a startup’s infrastructure, a regional business’s back office. These are not the same as a hyperscale AI training campus that draws power equivalent to a small city. The 20 MW line is where grid impacts, water demands, and community footprints tip into a scale that demands independent oversight.
At 20 megawatts, we’re talking about enough electricity to serve 15,000+ Montana homes. That kind of footprint demands independent study and legislative guardrails before any approval.
No — it protects it. The pause creates conditions for sustainable growth by ensuring any approved facility meets real standards for job creation, environmental protection, and community benefit. Poorly regulated development that saddles communities with costs and delivers few jobs is bad for everyone. The moratorium gives Montana time to make sure future investments actually deliver.
The 20 MW threshold specifically targets hyperscale and AI training facilities — not Montana’s existing tech businesses, startups, hospitals, or data infrastructure. A small server room, a regional tech firm, a co-working space with shared cloud tools — all operate well below this threshold and are completely unaffected. The moratorium protects Montana’s ability to grow a sustainable, human-scale tech economy.
The goal is responsible development with real community protections — not zero development. Two years is enough time to establish the regulatory framework that makes long-term, sustainable investment viable for everyone. A permanent ban would foreclose possibilities; a structured pause opens the door to better ones.
20 megawatts is roughly the power consumption of a hyperscale or AI training facility — enough to power 15,000 to 20,000 Montana homes. Below that level, facilities typically integrate into existing infrastructure without major grid impacts. Above it, the demands on water, power, roads, and community services tip into territory that requires independent oversight before approval.
The Legislature will have established an enforceable regulatory framework. Developers who completed their impact studies and community plans during the moratorium period can apply for approval under the new rules. The goal is a transparent, level playing field — not indefinite delay. Companies that did the work get to go first.
When a massive industrial consumer connects to the grid, the costs for new capacity — transmission lines, substations, generating facilities — often get spread across all ratepayers. Without a regulatory framework requiring developers to bear those costs, Montana families and small businesses could see their bills rise to subsidize corporate infrastructure. The moratorium prevents this from happening before protections are in place.
Any data center or industrial facility consuming 20 megawatts or more of electricity. This captures hyperscale cloud data centers, AI training facilities, and large cryptocurrency mining operations. Smaller facilities, existing businesses, hospitals, schools, manufacturers, and any facility already operating or approved before the moratorium are not affected.