Chief Executive Gallagher announced at the Jan. 7 Butte-Silver Bow Council of Commissioners meeting that he has appointed an ad hoc committee to evaluate community questions and concerns related to a proposed billion-dollar data center in Montana Connections Park.

"The mission of the ad hoc committee on the data center development is to evaluate, address, and communicate community questions and concerns regarding the proposed billion dollar data center in the Montana Connections Park," Gallagher said. He said the committee will ensure the project "aligns with the economic, environmental, and social interests of Butte Silver Bow fostering transparency, collaboration, and informed decision making." The agenda for the committee will be published the Friday before each meeting; the group is expected to meet weekly through February.

Gallagher listed committee participants as representatives from Montana Tech (including the chancellor and an energy chair), Highlands College, industry representatives including Paul Babb (representing Northwest Energy) and Brian Sullivan (REC Silicon/Manufacturing Montana), local planning and community-development staff, and members of the Montana Connections Board. Mackenzie from Gallagher’s office will take minutes for publication.

The chief executive said the county will create a website where residents can submit questions for the committee to address, and that its work is intended to be fact-based and accessible rather than highly technical. Gallagher also flagged broader federal advocacy the county will pursue, saying he and Commissioner Morgan will travel to Washington, D.C., to discuss direct allocations and funding issues with Montana’s congressional delegation.

No formal vote was required to create the ad hoc committee; Gallagher described it as appointed by the chief executive but subject to public-meeting rules.

Next steps: the county will publish the ad hoc committee agenda in advance, hold the initial round of public meetings weekly through February and post answers to resident questions on the new website once it is live.