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Wire · regulatory

Montana Should Be the First State to Ban Data Centers

Published

20 August 2026

Topic

regulatory

Sectors

Cloud Infrastructure

Geography

United States

Source

Read at flatheadbeacon.com

Verified

Fusion42 · 20 August 2026 · Fusion42 review

Montana state senator Ellie Boldman has proposed legislation to ban large-scale data centers statewide to protect local natural resources and prevent increased utility costs from serving wealthy corporations. The move reflects growing community opposition across the US due to data centers’ high electricity, water use, and limited permanent job creation.

This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Cloud Infrastructure.

◆ The Wire takeaway

Montana has pivoted to resist data center expansion by preventing resource strain and unfair wealth extraction. You must reassess market access and local support if your data center plans include water and power-intensive US regions.

Coverage

1 source · 20 Aug 2026

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Topics

Cloud Infrastructuredata-centersstate-legislationutility-costsenvironmental-justicecommunity-opposition