Krambu Proposes Sustainable AI Data Center at Former Montana Mill Site

Krambu Proposes Sustainable AI Data Center at Former Montana Mill Site

March 24, 2026

Data center developer Krambu has announced plans to construct a facility dedicated to artificial intelligence workloads on the site of the old Bonner Mill Industrial Park in Missoula County, Montana. The proposal highlights the growing demand for AI compute infrastructure and the increasing industry focus on integrating data centers into local communities with sustainable designs.

CEO Steve Wood outlined the project's key features in an interview with local network MTN, emphasizing a closed-loop system designed to capture and repurpose heat. "We are building the 'next innovation' of closed-loop systems," Wood stated, explaining that the captured thermal energy could service adjacent ecosystems like aquaponics or greenhouses. He further noted that the facility is designed to use no more water than the historic sawmill it would replace, with a potential usage rate of 500 gallons per megawatt discussed at a preliminary community meeting.

The project, which is still in its initial stages without a formal application submitted to the county, does not yet have a confirmed anchor tenant. However, Wood indicated the company is evaluating multiple offers, including potential interest from the U.S. Department of Defense. The development must navigate a "special exception review" process due to its location approximately 500 feet from a residential area, requiring detailed plans to mitigate impacts on traffic, noise, lighting, and aesthetics.

This scrutiny comes in a county already sensitized to data center operations. Previous opposition centered on a cryptocurrency mining facility operated by HyperBlock, which residents said consumed energy equivalent to one-third of the county's household demand and generated noise complaints. In response, Missoula County commissioners enacted 2019 zoning regulations mandating that data centers source all power from renewables and recycle electronic waste—standards the Krambu project would also need to meet. County officials organized the recent meeting due to "heightened public interest" and have promised further public consultation if a formal application is filed.

Source: datacenterdynamics