Krambu AI data center at Bonner Mill Industrial Park
An Idaho company, Krambu, wanted to put an AI data center in an old building at the Bonner mill site. Neighbors worried about water, noise and the Blackfoot River. The landowner backed out in July 2026, and the county then paused new data centers for a year.
Where things stand: The landowner pulled support on July 6, 2026, after public concerns.
🕒 Latest update (July 9, 2026): Missoula County approved a one-year pause on new data centers.
What we know
- 📍 WhereFormer UFP Edge building, Bonner Mill Industrial Park (old Stimson mill), east of Missoula, Unincorporated Missoula County, Missoula County
- 🏢 CompanyKrambu
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromGrid power. Early plans said 3 to 7 MW at first; the application said it could grow much larger.
- ❄️ CoolingClosed-loop cooling, first fill from on-site wells (planned)
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How big could the Bonner data center have grown? Reports say up to 29 MW or up to 100 MW. 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- March 20, 2026Krambu held a public question-and-answer meeting.
- April 2026Krambu filed an application with Missoula County. It needed a special exception because it is within 500 feet of homes.
- July 6, 2026The industrial park's manager withdrew his signature from the application.
- July 9, 2026Missoula County approved a one-year pause on new data centers.
Local votes and rules
⏸️ Pause on new data centers
County commissioners voted unanimously to pause new or bigger data centers for up to one year while staff write new rules. It covers all county land outside the city of Missoula. Thirty people spoke, all in favor. The pause can be extended one more year after another hearing. It came after a plan for a data center at the Bonner Mill industrial park, which later fell through.
📜 Data center rules
After a crypto mine at the Bonner Mill industrial park caused power and noise problems from 2017 to 2020, the county wrote rules for crypto mines and data centers. They are only allowed in industrial zones. Sites next to homes need a special exemption. Owners must recycle electronic waste and bring in new renewable power.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- What's next for the proposed Bonner data center · Montana Free Press · April 3, 2026
- Property owner of proposed Bonner data center backs out · Montana Free Press · July 6, 2026
- Counties take different approaches to data center regulation · Daily Montanan · July 10, 2026
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