2 data center projects in Unincorporated Silver Bow County
Who decides here: the Silver Bow County Commissioners decides on zoning for land outside city and town limits.
In Unincorporated Silver Bow County
Sabey data center at Montana Connections Business Park, Butte
Butte-Silver Bow, Silver Bow County
606 acres
🕒 May 13, 2026: Sabey ended its buy-sell agreement with Butte-Silver Bow.
Built & runningAtlas Power data center, Butte
Butte-Silver Bow, Silver Bow County
for Atlas Power (crypto mining and computer hosting)
🕒 Dec 19, 2024: NorthWestern announced it will supply 75 MW to Atlas from 2026, with up to 75 MW more in…
Local votes and rules
🗳️ Public vote
A citizen group gathered signatures for a ballot measure that would require a vote of the people before any data center is built or expanded in Butte-Silver Bow. The county moved the signature deadline earlier, and a local judge sided with the county on Aug. 28. The Montana Supreme Court first put it on the November 2026 ballot, then reversed itself on Sept. 24 because ballots were already printed and mailed. It will not be on the November ballot.
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
Commissioners voted 11-0 to have the county attorney write a temporary pause on new data centers. As discussed, it would last six months, with at most two one-year extensions, and then the council would have to pass rules. As of early October 2026 we found no final vote.
✅ Approved
Butte-Silver Bow commissioners approved selling about 600 acres of county land in the Montana Connections business park to Sabey Data Centers for a big data center. The county gets over $1 million and can take the land back if the plan falls through. In 2026 another company (REC Silicon) used its right to buy the land first, and Sabey ended the deal.
What you can do
- Get told first.
We'll email you if anything changes in Unincorporated Silver Bow County. - Go to county meetings.
Anyone can speak. Big projects usually need a public hearing. - Ask questions in writing.
Use our checklist.
🔔 Get told first
⚡ Your electric company
Depending on where you live in Unincorporated Silver Bow County: Vigilante Electric Co-op, Inc. (not available) or Northwestern Energy LLC (company).
Big data centers need a lot of power. Who pays for new power lines depends on state rules. See the rules in Montana.
🙋 Open tasks here
- Will Sabey try another site in Butte-Silver Bow or Anaconda-Deer Lodge County?
- How much power is Atlas using today, and has the 2026 expansion started?
- How much water does the site use?