How the Broadview data center got here

1. 2025 session Montana passes the Right to Compute Act State law

   SB 212, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings, passes the House 61–38 and the Senate 50–0. It limits government restrictions on computing to those “demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored.”[1][2]

2. July 30, 2025 NorthWestern signs a letter of intent to serve the project Utility

   Up to 1,000 MW for Quantica’s campus between Broadview and Billings.[3]

3. August 4, 2025 Quantica launches Big Sky Digital Infrastructure Company

   The company introduces its “flagship” Montana platform on about 5,000 acres.[4]

4. October 20, 2025 NorthWestern and Black Hills Corp. file to merge Utility

   A merger application goes to the PSC; news reports give the docket as 2025.10.078.[5]

5. November 17, 2025 Nine groups file a PSC complaint over data center costs PSC

   Represented by Earthjustice, they ask for a separate data center rate class.[6]

6. February 24, 2026 NorthWestern moves to dismiss the complaint PSC

   Its letters of intent with three data center developers then total about 1,400 MW.[7]

7. March 23 – April 3, 2026 DEQ emails: a major air permit, and likely an EIS State record

   After a pre-application meeting, DEQ staff estimate the gas plants would need a Major NSR/PSD permit with public review and likely an environmental impact statement; a gas line would be needed.[8]

8. May 20–21, 2026 Quantica applies for up to 7,235 MW Company

   Interconnection applications with NorthWestern, for a campus the company describes as 1,100 MW. The next day the Billings Gazette reports 1,785 MW of planned gas engines and turbines.[9][10][8]

9. June 17, 2026 A labor agreement, thin on details Company

   Quantica announces an agreement with the Southeastern Montana Building and Construction Trades Council.[11]

10. June 18, 2026 A public panel in Broadview Community

    MEIC hosts a panel on the proposal in Broadview.[12]

11. July 13 – August 2026 The first initiative is stopped Court

    The petition misses a July 13 deadline; a District Court upholds its invalidation. 16,650 valid signatures were required.[13]

12. August 2026 Residents ask for emergency interim zoning County

    The commission agrees to discuss it and takes no action.[14]

13. August 31, 2026 The company publishes its water plan Company

    About 20,000 gallons a day once built, up to 150,000 during construction, from the Madison aquifer.[15]

14. Early September 2026 Construction begins Press

    Equipment staging, then access roads and work on the well.[16]

15. September 22, 2026 Commissioners ask the Legislature to amend the law County

    A letter asks the county’s delegation to change the Right to Compute Act in 2027 so it doesn’t limit county zoning or health and safety authority.[17]

16. September 29, 2026 DEQ opens public comment on the well State record

    Reviewed as a categorical exclusion under a programmatic environmental assessment.[18][19]

17. October 6, 2026 The county sues to keep the second initiative off the ballot Court

    A 3–0 vote to file a validity lawsuit against the initiative aimed at the May 2027 election.[20]

18. October 21, 2026 DEQ extends the comment period State record

    The new deadline is 11:59 p.m., November 6, 2026.[19][18]

19. October 22, 2026 Health impacts of data centers on the commission’s agenda County

    A presentation at the commission’s Thursday discussion meeting.[21]

20. October 25–27, 2026 The county attorney resigns County

    Scott Twito’s resignation takes effect October 25; the commission takes up an interim appointment October 27.[22]

21. November 6, 2026 DEQ comment deadline on the well Deadline

    11:59 p.m. How to comment.[18]

22. May 4, 2027 The election the second initiative is aimed at Ballot

    If the courts allow it to proceed.[17]

23. 2028–2029 First power, by the company’s schedules Company

    The website says Phase 1 ramps up “beginning in 2028”; the May 2026 release says the first building is expected to be operating in 2029.[23][9]

Citations

Sources for this page

1. “Right to Compute Act and regulatory authority,” Montana Free Press, September 21, 2026. montanafreepress.orgSB 212 (2025), sponsored by Sen. Daniel Zolnikov, R-Billings; passed the House 61–38 and the Senate 50–0.
2. Montana Code Annotated § 2-10-204 (Right to Compute Act; Ch. 150, L. 2025, codified at MCA 2-10-201 through 2-10-207). mca.legmt.gov
3. “Groups file complaint to block NorthWestern Energy plan tied to data center projects,” NBC Montana, November 19, 2025. nbcmontana.comNorthWestern’s July 30, 2025 letter of intent to provide up to 1,000 MW to Quantica’s project.
4. “Quantica Infrastructure introduces Big Sky Digital Infrastructure as its flagship development platform in Montana,” August 4, 2025, as republished by Big Sky Economic Development. bigskyeconomicdevelopment.orgThe project’s public launch; 5,000 acres at the time.
5. NorthWestern Energy, “NorthWestern Energy and Black Hills Corp. advance plans to merge,” October 20, 2025. northwesternenergy.comNews reports give the PSC docket as 2025.10.078; this site has not opened the docket itself.
6. Earthjustice, “Groups file complaint to stop NorthWestern Energy from shifting data center costs to residential customers,” November 18, 2025. earthjustice.orgFiled November 17, 2025 for Big Sky 55+, Butte Watchdogs, Climate Smart Missoula, Golden Triangle Resource Council, Helena Interfaith Climate Advocates, Honor the Earth, MEIC, MontPIRG and NW Energy Coalition.
7. “NorthWestern tells PSC to throw out data center complaint,” Daily Montanan, March 17, 2026. dailymontanan.comMotion to dismiss filed February 24, 2026; letters of intent to three developers totaling about 1,400 MW.
8. Alex Mitchell, “Emails: Massive gas power plants planned north of Billings for Broadview data center,” Billings Gazette, May 21, 2026, as reprinted by Northern Plains Resource Council. northernplains.orgDEQ emails of March 23 and April 3, 2026: a Major NSR/PSD air permit likely needed, with public review and a likely environmental impact statement; a gas line would be needed. 585 MW of gas engines plus 1,200 MW of gas turbines.
9. Quantica Infrastructure, “Quantica files interconnection applications to expand power generation for its Big Sky Digital Infrastructure Campus,” press release, May 20, 2026. quanticainfra.comCompany statement. Up to 7,235 MW of interconnection against a 1,100 MW campus; EnCap Investments L.P. named as sponsor; CEO John Chesser; the ratepayer quote from Charlie Baker.
10. Justin Dubail, “Big Sky data center near Billings seeks major power supply from NorthWestern Energy,” NonStop Local / Montana Right Now, May 21, 2026. montanarightnow.com7,235 MW maximum request; 500 MW in year one and 1,100 MW by year two; NorthWestern’s 2024 average load of nearly 1,400 MW, per state utility data; first building hoped for in 2029.
11. “Agreement between data center developer and union federation thin on details,” Montana Free Press, June 17, 2026. montanafreepress.org
12. Montana Environmental Information Center, “Recording of panel: Broadview, Montana’s largest data center proposal,” posted July 16, 2026. meic.orgThe June 18, 2026 panel held in Broadview.
13. “Yellowstone County data center ballot initiative stopped by courts,” Daily Montanan, August 15, 2026. dailymontanan.comA July 13 deadline under current law and 16,650 valid signatures required.
14. “Commissioners agree to discuss emergency zoning request over proposed Broadview data center,” KTVQ, August 2026. ktvq.com
15. Big Sky Digital Infrastructure, “Big Sky Digital Infrastructure outlines water use plans, estimates 20,000 gallons of water per day once completed,” press release, August 31, 2026. quanticainfra.comCompany statement. Closed-loop cooling; ~20,000 gpd in operation, up to 150,000 gpd at peak construction; 160 gpm for up to 16 hours a day; the company’s claim that the Madison is not hydraulically connected to the Eagle.
16. Phoebe Tollefson, “Broadview area data center sees first phase of construction with roads, well work,” Montana Free Press, September 18, 2026. montanafreepress.orgStaging in early September, then access roads and the well; a site of nearly eight square miles; a retired Montana Tech hydrogeologist on the Madison’s warm, salty water and the reverse-osmosis brine it would leave.
17. “Yellowstone County commissioners ask Legislature to ‘refine’ data center law,” Montana Free Press, September 24, 2026, updated October 1. montanafreepress.org
18. Montana DEQ, “Quantica Big Sky Campus Public Water Well: Request for Public Comments on Categorical Exclusion Review under a Programmatic Environmental Assessment,” posted September 29, 2026, accessed October 23, 2026. deq.mt.govMadison aquifer, about 1,000 ft deeper than the Eagle Sandstone; NE¼ SW¼ Sec. 9, T3N, R23E, about 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview; ~150,000 gpd during construction and ~20,000 gpd after; comments due 11:59 p.m., November 6, 2026 (extended). Links the application, the draft checklist and the programmatic EA.
19. Montana DEQ, press release on the Big Sky Campus well, September 29, 2026, updated October 21, 2026. deq.mt.govDEQ’s review covers water quality; water quantity and water rights belong to the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, from which a data center must obtain a water right, a change in use, or water from an existing right holder.
20. Phoebe Tollefson, “Yellowstone County sues over initiative aimed at Quantica data center,” Montana Free Press, October 7, 2026. montanafreepress.org
21. Yellowstone County, Board of County Commissioners discussion agendas, accessed October 23, 2026. yellowstonecountymt.govThe October 22, 2026 discussion agenda listed a presentation on the health impacts of data centers.
22. Yellowstone County, proposed resolution appointing an interim county attorney, on the October 27, 2026 agenda. Resolution (PDF)County Attorney Scott Twito’s resignation effective October 25, 2026; Arielle Dean proposed as interim county attorney through January 1, 2027.
23. Big Sky Digital Infrastructure, home page and FAQ, accessed October 23, 2026. bigskydigitalinfra.com · FAQCompany statements. 5,100 acres owned fee simple; Phase 1 ramping to 500 MW “beginning in 2028”; “evaluating natural gas”; job and investment estimates attributed to the University of Montana’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Company statements are cited as company statements, not as findings. Corrections are welcome: corrections policy.