Developers pitch AI data center at Bonner Mill; residents press officials on noise, water and transparency

Representatives for a proposed AI data center addressed a packed community Q&A at Bonner Mill in Missoula, fielding questions about noise (including infrasound), water use, power sourcing and public disclosure while promising local jobs and environmental safeguards.

The proposal would locate compute clusters in the vacant planer building at Bonner Mill. Mike, a property representative, told attendees he has tried for months to recruit tenants for the roughly 240,000-square-foot building and said securing a tenant was his principal interest. "I gain a tenant and and fills a building," he said.

Steve, a project representative, described the technical differences between cryptocurrency mining and AI operations and framed his firm's approach as focused on scientific and biomedical computing rather than Bitcoin mining. "We're looking for clients that are coming in running these superclusters that are going to solve problems, big problems like biomedical research," he said, and outlined a vision of "industrial symbiosis" that would capture heat and reuse it in greenhouses or aquaponics to supply local produce.

Why it matters: residents said the site’s industrial zoning, past regional projects and new data-center cooling systems raise questions about noise, vibration, groundwater and disclosure of commercial agreements. A county-affiliated speaker said commissioners had adopted regulations after past projects and emphasized public participation: "We contact the CSKT and about 150 agencies; applicant materials will be posted on missoulacountyvoice.com when submitted," the official said.

Noise and vibration: multiple attendees pressed whether sound testing covers infrasound (frequencies below 20 Hz). An on-site expert explained that very low-frequency waves are larger than a room and typically require seismic equipment, not ordinary noise meters, to detect. The county speaker said county rules cover "noise and vibration regulation" and cited a regulatory baseline: a minimum motion velocity of 0.01 inch per second over the 1–100 Hz range as the threshold the county uses to determine violations.

Water and power: proponents described the data center cooling loop as a closed system they characterized as "net zero" in operation and said water samples required by the state would be tested and sent to DEQ on a regular schedule. On power, project staff said the site would not necessarily be islanded (operating off-grid); energy would typically be delivered from the grid through brokers and utilities, and the team said disclosure of purchase and sellback arrangements may be limited by private-utility contractual terms.

Jobs, taxes and emissions: the developers said final forecasts for thermal CO2 output and tax revenue had not been completed and would depend on clients and equipment. They said they intend to pay prevailing wages and offer benefits; one estimate given at the meeting was roughly three long-term employees per two megawatts (for example, about 15 employees at a 10-megawatt site), with additional roles possible if aquaponics or greenhouse projects are added.

Community process and next steps: county staff encouraged public comments and pointed attendees to missoulacountyvoice.com for posted materials once an application is filed. Project representatives said more technical details (including water-engineering and vibration measurements) would be provided by engineers in later materials or on request. The meeting closed with organizers promising additional opportunities for public engagement.

The meeting recorded questions and provisional answers but no formal county decision; the project will proceed through the county’s public-application process and any required environmental review.