Residents press Missoula County officials on water, noise and oversight for proposed Bonner data center

Robert “Bob” Morris, a Montana Tech energy expert, told the Bonner Mill Community Council on May 11 that data centers can be designed to use little water depending on cooling choices and that Montana’s cool climate favors low‑water designs. “Evaporative cooling systems use a lot of water and air cooled use zero water,” he said, explaining tradeoffs between energy and water when choosing cooling systems.

Why it matters: The 29‑megawatt‑scale site under review sits in a part of Missoula County with existing industrial and commercial water rights, and the county must decide whether the applicant’s construction and operations would affect adjacent residential neighborhoods, traffic, noise and utilities. Residents and environmental advocates pressed for clearer, enforceable limits on water consumption, noise and independent monitoring.

What county staff said: Jenny Dixon, the county case planner on the project, told the council the application was certified complete and will be circulated to agencies for comment. “We did certify the application as complete today, ready for review by our agencies,” she said. Dixon said the…