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Council extends land-sale deadlines for Sonata and Sabey projects; water use discussed for Sabey data center
Summary
The Butte-Silver Bow Council voted 9-0 on Oct. 15 to concur with staff requests to extend purchase-and-sale agreements for Sonata and Horizons Montana/Sabey at Montana Connections Park while officials continue due diligence and design work.
The Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners on Oct. 15 concurred and placed on file communications authorizing Chief Executive J.P. Gallagher to sign amendments extending purchase-and-sale agreements for two prospective projects at Montana Connections Park: Sonata (communication 2025-489) and Horizons Montana LLC doing business as Sabey (communication 2025-490). Both motions passed by recorded 9-0 votes.
Kayla Lapin, the county’s economic development coordinator, told commissioners Sonata — a Norwegian company developing a graphite component for electric vehicle batteries — has narrowed its U.S. site search to Butte and asked for an extension on its purchase and sale agreement until June 30, 2026, to complete commercialization and secure contracts with battery manufacturers.
Lapin also updated the council on Sabey’s data-center project and related infrastructure needs. She said Montana Connections Park has dedicated industrial water infrastructure and “we are set up infrastructure wise to provide up to 7,000,000 gallons a day, in water in both incoming and outgoing.” Lapin added that Sabey expects to use a closed-loop, recirculating system for its first phase and that early figures “are around less than 3,000,000 gallons a day” for that phase.
Commissioners pressed for clarity on water numbers. Commissioner O’Leary said the public expects transparency on water consumption and asked for more exact figures when the project returns. Commissioner Mankins likewise requested more detailed, quantified plans about recirculation and reuse prior to any final land sale or infrastructure commitments.
Lapin said the extensions are intended to give both companies time to complete due diligence and finalize design and resource agreements. She said the county will bring land-sale decisions back to the Montana Connections board and the council before any final transfer of property.
The council’s votes were recorded as concurrence and placement on file for communications 2025-489 (Sonata) and 2025-490 (Horizons Montana/Sabey). No formal land sale or final water allocation decision was made at the meeting.
