SDC Montana
A Modern Industry for
Montana's Historic Heartland
Butte powered America’s industrial age. Now they’ll power its digital one.
SDC Montana would transform the industrial property within the Montana Connections Business Development Park into one of the most advanced, energy-efficient data center campuses in the country.
Butte Data Center
Quick Reference
- Location: Montana Connections Business Development Park
- Total Land Area: ~600 acres under option
- Power Capacity: Up to 250 MW planned in phases
- Utility Provider: NorthWestern Energy
- Cooling Design: Air-first, closed-loop system with closed-loop backup
- Water Source: Industrial (non-potable) Silver Lake water system
- Oversight: Public Service Commission–regulated framework
Oversight & Transparency
Sabey operates within NorthWestern Energy’s regulated utility framework under PSC oversight.
Local Benefits
Each construction phase will employ 50–150 skilled tradespeople many more in local support industries. Discover how Sabey supports local jobs.
Share this video:
Relationships Built on Trust
Partnering with Community
For more than half a century, Sabey Data Centers has developed some of the nation’s most energy-efficient, community-focused technology campuses. Founded in Washington, we’ve grown to six campuses across the country, each built on long-term relationships and a commitment to enriching the communities we call home.
Now, that legacy continues in Montana. On reclaimed industrial land between Butte, Sabey is proposing the creation of a digital infrastructure campus that honors the region’s industrial heritage while powering the industries of tomorrow.
Project Timeline
The project will be built in phases for several years to match customer demand and available infrastructure. Each phase typically brings 50–150 skilled tradespeople and support roles. Preliminary due diligence work is underway, with construction following final approvals.
Infrastructure & Utility
The campus will operate within NorthWestern Energy’s regulated framework under PSC oversight. Sabey pays for all its own interconnection and grid upgrades in a structure designed to prevent shifting project-specific costs to existing customers.
Environmental Design
The Montana campus follows Sabey’s sustainability framework, prioritizing efficient design, renewable energy opportunities and transparent reporting. Each facility will include low-water landscaping, sound attenuation and dark-sky lighting.
Local Benefits
Beyond construction and operations jobs, the project will strengthen the local tax base and support infrastructure through private investment. Sabey will collaborate with labor partners, educators and community leaders to align the project with local economic and environmental goals.
“In Montana, our goal is to build lasting value for both people and place. Sustainability isn’t an add-on for us—it’s built into every decision, from energy efficiency and water stewardship to the partnerships we form with local communities. We’re committed to setting a standard for digital infrastructure that strengthens the grid, protects natural resources, and leaves every community we join better than we found it.”
Tim Mirick
President, Sabey Data Centers
“Efficiency is the foundation of sustainability. Every Sabey campus is engineered to deliver more computing power with less energy, less water, and less noise. In Montana, our air-first hybrid cooling design and continuous optimization of power usage mean we can support high-density technology while dramatically reducing environmental impact.”
John Sasser
CTO, Sabey Data Centers
“Montana’s abundant natural resources make it an ideal location to explore cleaner, more resilient power solutions. As the industry evolves, we’re actively evaluating partnerships and technologies, from advanced nuclear to expanded renewables, that can support growth without compromising our environmental commitments.”
Rob Corbin
SVP Energy Development, Sabey Data Centers
Frequently Asked Questions
Common inquiries regarding our data center development.
Sabey will pay for 100% of customer‑specific and dedicated interconnection facilities. NorthWestern Energy would provide service under filed tariffs or a Public Service Commission (PSC)‑approved contract, and Sabey would pay all applicable charges and riders. PSC decisions based on utility filings determine retail rates. Retail rates are set solely by the PSC, which evaluates costs across the entire system—including fuel, transmission, storms, maintenance, and new infrastructure—before determining any customer rates.
Sabey intends to redevelop portions of historically industrial land in phases. Final building footprints, setbacks and heights will be defined in site‑plan and permit submittals to the appropriate bodies and shared publicly at that time. Phased build‑out allows infrastructure to match demand and preserves buffers to neighbors.
Data centers offer significant advantages over typical industrial, manufacturing or warehouse operations:
Minimal Traffic Impact: Data centers generate substantially fewer daily vehicle trips than typical industrial uses. With no constant freight activity, limited shift changes, and fewer deliveries, traffic levels are far lower than manufacturing, logistics or warehousing operations. neighborhood disruption.
Cleaner Operations: No continuous manufacturing emissions, no process wastewater, no hazardous material handling, and significantly lower environmental impacts than traditional industrial uses.
Better Jobs: High-wage technology positions paying 150% of county average with excellent benefits, versus typical warehouse or manufacturing wages.
Stable Long-Term: 20+ year operational commitment with highly durable tax base, unlike manufacturing facilities that may relocate or close during economic downturns.
Minimal Service Burden: Small employee count means minimal impact on roads, schools, emergency services and other public infrastructure compared to employment-intensive industries.
Data centers represent long-lived, capital-intensive infrastructure investments with multi-decade operational horizons. Multiple factors ensure long-term commitment:
Massive Fixed Investment: Several billions in buildings, cooling systems, backup power and technology infrastructure physically anchored to this specific site. Data centers cannot simply relocate—they represent multi-decade commitments to their communities.
Continuous Reinvestment: Technology equipment is regularly upgraded and refreshed every 3-5 years, generating ongoing construction activity, equipment purchases and associated tax revenue for the life of the project.
Growing Demand: Cloud computing, artificial intelligence, online services, remote work, telemedicine and digital education continue expanding rapidly. Data centers are essential infrastructure—like power plants or telecommunications networks—that modern society depends on.
Sabey’s Track Record: Sabey Data Centers’ facilities in the Seattle region have operated successfully for over 25 years, demonstrating consistent community partnership, reliable tax contributions, stable employment and positive economic impacts decade after decade.
This is infrastructure built for multi-decade operation, supported by ongoing reinvestment and long-term community partnership.
Sabey is in the due diligence phase, reviewing internal plans for the proposal. If and when we do move forward with exercising the option to purchase the land or ask for an extension of the due diligence period, we will coordinate that openly and transparently with Butte Silver Bow leadership, staff, and the community.
If you have more questions, please reach out through our contact form. We’re here to help and provide the information you need!
Questions or Concerns?
We’re eager to open a dialogue. Reach out and let us know what you have on your mind!
