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Regbase

The Data Center Divide

Silver Bow County

Pro-Data Center Policies

Montana limits government restrictions on lawful computing unless narrowly justified, while allowing action against nuisances and requiring risk plans for certain AI-controlled critical infrastructure. Qualifying large data centers receive favorable property-tax treatment, with some limits on power sales and infrastructure tax benefits.

Rating and summary from Montana statewide as there are no scored current or future laws outside temporary restrictions for Silver Bow County.

Specific to Silver Bow County only.

pending · County measure
Would temporarily prohibit approvals, construction, development, expansion, or establishment of hyperscale data centers in Butte-Silver Bow County while the county studies regulations for them.Temporary Moratorium on Data-Center Development Approvals (proposed by Butte-Silver Bow Council)

What this means

The proposed ordinance would pause approval, construction, development, expansion, and establishment of hyper-scale data centers while the county studies rules, creating a major barrier to new projects and expansions (moratorium on approvals and development). It applies only to hyper-scale centers, and the sources do not state how long the pause would last or say it would stop existing centers from operating.

Timing

The sources describe an interim zoning moratorium on hyperscale data centers but do not specify an expiration date or ending condition.

People behind it

  • Requested concurrence to direct preparation and introduction of a temporary moratorium on data center development approvals.

  • Was to be directed to prepare and introduce the temporary moratorium ordinance.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • Imposes an interim zoning moratorium on the approval, construction, development, expansion, or establishment of hyper-scale data centers in Butte-Silver Bow County while appropriate regulations are studied. The sources do not specify a duration or exceptions.

Sources

pending · County measure
Would prohibit Butte-Silver Bow from approving data-center construction or expansion after November 3, 2026, unless two-thirds of registered voters approve it in a special election; the proposal did not make the November 2026 ballot.Butte-Silver Bow Data Center Initiative (proposed amendment to Title 17, Zoning)

What this means

If enacted, the measure would make building or expanding a data center in Butte-Silver Bow much harder: each project would need approval in a special election by two-thirds of all registered voters. It does not ban operating existing centers, but the unusually high approval threshold could block most new projects and expansions.

Timing

The measure would bar authorization of data center construction or expansion after 2026-11-03 unless approved by a special election with two-thirds of registered voters voting in favor; it states no sunset for the requirement. without approval via special election

People behind it

  • Identified as the author of the official petition language proposing the initiative.

  • Identified as the petition treasurer.

Restrictions & requirementsHide restrictions & requirements1

  • After November 3, 2026, construction or expansion of a data center could not be authorized, licensed, permitted, or otherwise approved without a special election in which two-thirds of all registered voters approve. The proposed approval requirement

Sources

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