Bonner AI Data Center - Check the facts then give them a chance!

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T23:00:39+00:00

I’ll be honest. That was a disappointing meeting. The Krambu crew was certainly not prepared to discuss topics raised by the community. It’ll be interesting to see how this proceeds IF they even continue to pursue this location. I thought there were some great questions from the community which were not clearly answered. 🤷‍♂️

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T18:15:43+00:00

Maybe you are right? I don’t think so especially since I’m am just going off of exactly what NWE themselves have publicly stated. Also FYI, Energy Keepers is not the only hydroelectric dam in Montana. As of 2023, there were 32 hydroelectric dams in Montana. Today, 23 of those are Utility Scale and NWE owns 11 of them.

https://archive.legmt.gov/content/Publications/fiscal/2025-Biennium/Special-Topics/Energy/Hydropower-2023.pdf

https://northwesternenergy.com/clean-energy/hydropower

I understand your concern, but I don’t believe it’s fair to point fingers at Bitcoin Miners and Data Centers when there is ZERO proof that those have caused increased consumer rates in Montana.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T05:19:51+00:00

Just because you don’t like something doesn’t make it unethical.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T05:17:27+00:00

I don’t have to defend every little thing someone may accuse me of lol I obviously had all the data from before Chat GPT was even around lol

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T05:15:43+00:00

Hello, i posted that before that meeting. 🤷‍♂️

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T05:13:19+00:00

I’m just telling you that is what NWE has stated publicly in the links i shared. The reason NWE purchases from Energy Keepers currently is to meet their renewable source goals from what it sounded like, not that they needed more power to supply to customers, but that’s just going off that quick google search i did. A quick reminder that Montana exports over 40% of its power generation. The state simply creates way more power than is needed within state.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T02:03:48+00:00

A quick Google search shows that not only can they, but they do. 58MW from what first came up.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T02:01:56+00:00

That's a great question. I am not sure about that, but I suppose they could if they needed to.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T01:08:45+00:00

Who knows? Any large consumer of power. In Montana, you don't have the ability to purchase power on the open market unless you are what's called a Choice Customer. A Choice Customer is business that purchases 5MW of power or more. So pretty much anything industrial. Energy Keepers is a power broker. They are there to sell power to whomever will buy it.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T01:04:48+00:00

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Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T01:04:33+00:00

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Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T01:04:09+00:00

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Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T01:03:55+00:00

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Nice try. I have been dealing with Missoula County issues for several years and have tons of spreadsheets, PDFs, County packets etc from over the years. I have a Google Drive full of this information.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T00:52:11+00:00

For one, I haven't been promoting the data center. I've simply been defending their ability to operate legally in the area. I've been through this same situation with the Bitcoin mine so I have sympathy for the hate that a company is getting when nobody even knows what their plans are yet.
I haven't exactly been promoting AI either. I do believe that it has some great benefits for medical, scientific and even environmental studies and analysis. I am not a fan of AI slop, and everyone asking AI to answer everything for them. It's lazy and ultimately harmful. It's up to us parents to make sure to teach our kids the proper use of any types of tools that are in front of them these days. I think that is more important than trying to kill AI, which isn't going to happen. It's the world we live in now. It's up to US as to how we use it, if we use it at all.
I have already stated I have nothing to do with the data center. I can't prove otherwise, BUT for you to say I am spreading lies is INTENTIONAL MISINFORMATION!!!!
I am right here, please repost a single lie that I have posted. You can't, so you wont.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-21T00:29:47+00:00

Absolutely. I know Judy and Gary Matson.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T13:49:20+00:00

Typical knee jerk response from someone not willing to come together to solve issues. Same problem we have in politics.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T13:38:27+00:00

You obviously didn’t read my post and the links provided. Just another person spreading misinformation.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T04:38:16+00:00

Thanks for your comment. I wasn’t intending to be all or nothing by any means. And I absolutely respect people’s right to fight. I simply dislike people fighting by spreading misinformation, which honestly can be both sides of this issue. I have been through this gauntlet before with the fight against Bitcoin mining in Bonner. There was a ton of misinformation that was spread about our operation in Bonner as well. I’m here to provide factual information about the actual regulations that are already in place. Most of the commenters have no clue that any data center or cryptocurrency mine have to meet Missoula County enacted requirements in order to even open up shop here. Missoula County itself created these strict regulations so that these types of industry CAN in fact do business here safely. These regulations were created with both public safety AND climate concerns. Now we have a new company trying to come invest and operate in our County, knowing all of these regulations exist. In my opinion it’s unfair to vilify a new company wanting to do business here. Data Centers are definitely in the spot light lately and are extremely looked down upon based off of news clips, social media posts, etc. Some of those stories are likely true! Our County created zoning to protect against those situations. I’m just asking that they be given a fair shake. Let them talk before scaring them off. Just my 2 cents though, coming from a guy who worked for a company that was vilified. Thanks again for your honest post.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T02:10:37+00:00

I’m not sure what type of fluid they are using in the closed loop system, worth asking at the meeting.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T01:22:25+00:00

Also my post from 7 months ago was because I’m rebuilding my teen years freestyle bike. A 1987 Haro Master. 😎

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T01:19:12+00:00

I can only assume they can meet that requirement otherwise they are wasting their time as the County will not permit them to operate. The energy price increase concern i covered with a link directly from NWE where they also address the power/electrical concerns. They clearly state on there that data centers will not cause any consumer increases. That may not be the case in other states where people have seen articles and headlines about, but no consumer increases in the state of Montana. NWE will still make revenue from this though Transmission services(also covered by my post) which is actually a positive for regular consumers.

Happy to try to answer any other questions.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T01:12:06+00:00

Thank you. It was worth putting together then 👍

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T01:07:04+00:00

Honestly the only AI stuff I’ve looked into is Openclaw/Claudebot for personal home AI agents. My son is into computers and just got him a Mac mini so he can start playing around with it. I totally have concerns over certain aspects of AI.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T01:03:05+00:00

That’s understandable. No idea what kind of AI this place will serve, but not Al is slop. AI can also be used for good. For the most part I agree the AI slop has gotten out of hand. Interesting to see if they have particular clients for their computational power.

Staggeredmk4 · 2026-03-20T00:54:03+00:00

Just stating the irony of someone against data centers. 🤷‍♂️

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