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Ad hoc committee tells Butte‑Silver Bow commissioners Sabey data center fits existing water and grid plans but community questions remain
Summary
An ad hoc committee presented findings on the proposed Sabey data center, saying industrial water and electricity capacity can accommodate an initial 50 MW build expanding to 200 MW, while community speakers raised concerns about corporate finances, grid impacts and local hiring guarantees.
Chief Executive Gallagher convened a Feb. 18 presentation by an ad hoc committee tasked with fact‑finding on Sabey’s proposed data center in the Montana Connections Business Park, and committee members described technical details for water, cooling and electric connections while community members urged caution and sought stronger local commitments.
The committee chair, Brian Sullivan, said the panel took a neutral fact‑finding role and represented Butte‑Silver Bow, Northwestern Energy, Montana Tech, the TED board and community members. “Our mission is really to find facts around this project,” Sullivan said, adding the committee would not take a position but answer community questions.
The committee’s technical presenters said the industrial water and power systems can support the project as proposed. Jim Keenan, Butte‑Silver Bow water plant superintendent, outlined the Silver Lake industrial water system and said industrial users draw chiefly from Warm Springs Creek and storage reservoirs; Keenan said the industrial system is financed by its customers and…
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