Data center profile · About 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview, unincorporated Yellowstone County, Montana

Quantica Big Sky Campus

A 5,000-acre speculative data-center campus near Broadview, Montana, with up to 1 GW of utility load sought from NorthWestern Energy, no tenant, no signed power contract and organized local opposition

Early site work. Press reports preliminary site work began in early Sept. 2026. No tenant, executed electric service agreement, air permit or water right on record. Power is a letter of intent and a development agreement that only study what would be needed.
The site, Satellite image, Oct. 24, 2025
1,000 MW
utility load in the NorthWestern letter of intent
starts at 500 MW, growing to 1,000 MW by 2030 per the company; Quantica later cites 1,100 MW
175 MW
first-stage load from 2028, rising to 500 MW by 2030
from the intervenors' PSC complaint (Earthjustice and MEIC, Nov. 2025), which paraphrases NorthWestern
5,000 acres
land assembled south of Broadview
bought in 2024 by Montana Property LLC; mineral rights added in 2026
7,235 MW
maximum generation in Quantica's interconnection applications
nameplate ceiling across renewables, firming and batteries; nothing approved; press puts gas at 1,785 MW
OperatorQuantica Infrastructure (EnCap-sponsored), through Big Sky Digital Infrastructure
CustomerNone selected
Planned IT capacity800 MW at full build-out (our estimate from the company's 1 GW campus power figure)
First building in serviceOur estimate: 2028 (range 2027 to 2030); company says 2029.
Next deadlineOct. 29, 2026: Public comment closes on the Montana DEQ review of the campus water well
From orbit

The site from above

Satellite overview1
Satellite image, May 14, 2019.
From orbit

The site

Latest clear satellite view, Oct. 24, 2025.

The site
Satellite image, Oct. 24, 2025
Power

Power and the grid

None energized or contracted yet

NorthWestern Energy grid service (letter of intent and development agreement)Letter of intent, not contracted
1,000 MW
LOI: 500 MW starting load growing to 1,000 MW by 2030 (company); complaint says 175 MW from 2028 rising to 500 MW by 2030; NorthWestern says 25 MW ramping to 1.1 GW from early 2029. No electric service agreement signed Utility regulator · Nov. 2025
Affiliate renewables and battery storageProposed
500 MW
500 MW of new renewables and storage, expandable to 1 GW (developer says); no permit or contract Company · Aug. 2025
Firming generation (natural gas reported)Proposed, unpermitted
1,785 MW
press report of planned gas-fired generation; part of 7,235 MW of interconnection applications; no air permit filed News report · Sept. 2026
Proposed
Backup generators (emergency use, not a power supply)

Getting on the grid

Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.

  1. July 30, 2025
    Letter of intent announced
    NorthWestern announces an LOI to serve Quantica, with load starting at 500 MW and growing to 1,000 MW by 2030. Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
  2. Dec. 2, 2025
    LOIs sealed
    The Montana PSC issues a protective order that shields the three data-center letters of intent from public view. News report · March 2026
  3. April 2026
    Development agreement signed
    NorthWestern signs an agreement with Quantica to evaluate the transmission and generation needed; it says it is still working to execute electric service agreements. Company · Oct. 2026
  4. May 20, 2026
    Generation interconnection applications
    Quantica files applications for up to 7,235 MW of generation and storage, starting NorthWestern's formal review. see Permits
  5. Not set
    Electric service agreement
    Not signed. For loads of 50 MW or more, NorthWestern's proposed tariff would send the executed agreement to the PSC for approval before service. Company · April 2026
Permits

Permits checklist

1 contested · 3 pending · 3 checked, nothing on file

The campus needs few local approvals, so the real gates are the state water and air permits and the utility contract.

Risks

What could slow it down

Lawsuits

3 cases on record

Money

Money on record

$25-30M
21-mile transmission line NorthWestern announced
utility project in the area; completion expected 2028 News report · March 2026
~170 jobs
permanent jobs in a university model of a generic 500 MW campus
not a company commitment News report · Oct. 2026

Not on record: project financing: EnCap is the sponsor, no lender or raise found News report · May 2026; tax incentives: no county abatement or state award in sources checked News report · Oct. 2026

Timeline

What happened, and what is due

SitePaper trailConstructionPowerPermitsMoneyLegalUpcoming
  1. 2024
    Site Montana Property LLC buys about 5,000 acres south of Broadview News report · Oct. 2026
  2. Aug. 22, 2024
    Site Quantica Infrastructure formed in Delaware Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
  3. July 30, 2025
    Power NorthWestern announces a letter of intent to serve Quantica Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
  4. Aug. 4, 2025
    Site Quantica launches Big Sky Digital Infrastructure, a 5,000-acre campus Company · Oct. 2026
  5. Nov. 2025
    Permits Nine groups file a PSC complaint over NorthWestern's plan to serve 1,400 MW of data centers Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
  6. Dec. 2, 2025
    Permits PSC seals the three data-center letters of intent News report · March 2026
  7. April 29, 2026
    Power NorthWestern discloses a development agreement with Quantica; no service agreement yet Company · Oct. 2026
  8. May 20, 2026
    Power Quantica files generation interconnection applications totaling 7,235 MW News report · May 2026
  9. July 2026
    Site Residents' ballot initiative fails on a filing-deadline ruling after 14,980 signatures News report · Oct. 2026
  10. Sept. 2026
    Site Press reports preliminary site work has begun: access roads and a well News report · Oct. 2026
  11. Sept. 29, 2026
    Permits Montana DEQ opens comment on the campus water well State agency · Sept. 2026
  12. Oct. 29, 2026
    Permits Water well public comment closes State agency · Sept. 2026
  13. May 4, 2027
    Site Target ballot date for a second county initiative requiring a countywide vote on data centers Local government · Oct. 2026
  14. 2029
    Power First building hoped online; NorthWestern describes a ramp from 25 MW starting early 2029 News report · Sept. 2026
Construction activity

Satellite captures by quarter

Since July 2011: 73 satellite captures. The chart starts in the first quarter of 2023; 10 earlier records are not drawn.

Satellite
’23
’24
’25
’26
Dot size: records in the quarter, largest = 5. Two-digit years mark each first quarter.
The buildings

Specs

150,000 gal/day
water during construction, falling to 20,000 gal/day after (DEQ notice)
State agency · Sept. 2026
Early 2029
first building targeted online (company, via press)
News report · Sept. 2026
Who is involved

Owners, partners and builders

Owners and developers
  • Quantica Infrastructure: developer, led by John Chesser (former Talen Energy CFO)
  • Big Sky Digital Infrastructure: campus platform; Damon Obie, co-founder
  • Montana Property LLC: landowner
  • EnCap Investments: sponsor
Utility
  • NorthWestern Energy: serving utility, merging with Black Hills
Land history
  • Invenergy assembled the land for an unbuilt wind project; Broad Reach Power and EnCap held it afterward
Opponents
  • Northern Plains Resource Council, MEIC and Earthjustice
  • Kassi Solberg: Broadview rancher leading local signature drives
Still unknown

Open questions

Where this comes from

344 records from 36 documents

Drawn from news reports, company statements, state agency records, securities filings, public and commercial datasets, utility regulator dockets, local government records and satellite captures, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.

News report 20Company 6State agency 3SEC filing 3Dataset 3Utility regulator 2Local government 1Satellite 0
Evidence

Every quote behind this page

Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.

Power (33)
  • NorthWestern files the Large New Load Tariff Rule (Rule No. 24) application: bundled loads >=5 MW; ESAs for >=50 MW loads to be PSC-reviewed before service
    “who anticipate electric loads of 5 megawatts (MW) or greater, titled Large New Load Service Tariff Rule, Rule No. 24”
    Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Interconnection status: Position found - utility paper trail, no executed ESA: NorthWestern Energy signed a letter of intent on Jul 30, 2025 to provide energy services for the Big Sky Campus (Phase 1 500 MW growing to 1
    “In April 2026, we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support their proposed need.”
    SEC filing · April 2026 · grade A
  • large load interconnection request: signed development agreement to evaluate transmission and generation needs
    “In April 2026, we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support their proposed need.”
    SEC filing · April 2026 · grade A
  • PSC proceeding: Large New Load Tariff Rule (Rule No. 24) application filed by NorthWestern
    “respectfully submits this Application for the Montana Public Service Commission's approval of a new tariff rule”
    Utility regulator · March 2026 · grade A
  • Utility: NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern Corporation)
    “NorthWestern intends to provide 1,400 megawatts of electricity supply service to three data center developers in Montana”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Utility service: 175 MW
    “NorthWestern confirmed that it expected to serve Quantica's 175 megawatts load beginning in 2028, with phased growth to 500 megawatts by 2030”
    Utility regulator · July 2025 · grade A
  • Utility service: 500 MW
    “phased growth to 500 megawatts by 2030, and expected growth to 1,000 megawatts”
    Utility regulator · July 2025 · grade A
  • Stated campus size: 1,000 MW
    “the projected energy load would start at 500 megawatts with phased growth to 1,000 megawatts by 2030”
    Utility regulator · July 2025 · grade A
  • Big Sky Digital Infrastructure launch: 5,000-acre campus, initial 500 MW of affiliate renewables plus battery storage expandable to 1 GW; construction planned to begin in 2026
    “The initial projected capacity is 500 MW of new renewable power and battery energy storage, expandable to 1 GW”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • NorthWestern and Black Hills sign merger-of-equals agreement (combined parent: Bright Horizon Energy); data-center load growth is central to the equity story; Montana PSC Docket 2025.10.078 still pending in Oct 2026
    “On August 18, 2025, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Black Hills”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • PSC proceeding: joint application filed (NorthWestern-Black Hills); evidentiary hearing May 2026; decision pending
    “On August 18, 2025, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Black Hills”
    Company · July 2026 · grade B
  • Utility agreement status: No executed electric service agreement; NorthWestern Energy development agreement signed Apr 2026 only to evaluate transmission and generation needed
    “In April 2026, we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support their proposed need.”
    Company · April 2026 · grade B
  • Interconnection status: LOI July 2025 (terms sealed under PSC Protective Order 8040); development agreement April 2026; electric service agreement NOT executed as of Oct 2026
    “We are working with each of these parties to execute electric service agreements”
    Company · April 2026 · grade B
  • Power plan: hybrid: NorthWestern grid supply (LOI/development agreement stage) plus affiliate on-site renewables, battery storage and firming generation proposed
    “The initial projected capacity is 500 MW of new renewable power and battery energy storage, expandable to 1 GW, to be developed by affiliates of BSDI”
    Company · Aug. 2025 · grade B
  • Stated campus size: 1,000 MW
    “The projected Phase 1 energy service load is 500 megawatts, with phased growth to 1 gigawatt.”
    Company · July 2025 · grade B
  • Stated campus size: 1,000 MW
    “The projected Phase 1 energy service load is 500 megawatts, with phased growth to 1 gigawatt.”
    Company · July 2025 · grade B
  • large load interconnection request: signed letter of intent to provide energy services
    “We’re actively working with Quantica to optimize the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support this project”
    Company · July 2025 · grade B
  • IT capacity: not stated
    “Documented absence: IT load never disclosed by the company, the utility, or any filing found; all published figures are utility load or generation nameplate”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Grid operator: none (WECC; no organized market in Montana)
    “BSDI integrates renewable energy sources, reliable grid power from NorthWestern Energy, and new regional fiber optic connections”
    Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Stage: pre-construction with preliminary site work underway; no tenant, no executed ESA, no air permit and no water right - powered-land speculation with real land control
    “Houston-based developer Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Paper or real: land purchased (2024) and preliminary site work begun, but no tenant, no ESA, no project financing and no generation permitted - more than a paper announcement, far from a financed project
    “When a little-known company called Montana Property LLC purchased 5,000 acres just south of Broadview in 2024”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Jobs claimed: not stated
    “Documented absence: no jobs commitment by Quantica found; the ~170 permanent on-site jobs figure in coverage is a University of Montana BBER model of a generic 500 MW campus, not a project claim”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • NorthWestern announces the Shorey Road to Broadview 21-mile transmission line ($25-30M, substation upgrades, completion expected 2028) - utility-side enabling project for the area
    “In February 2025, NorthWestern announced a new transmission line from the Shorey Road substation to the Broadview substation”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Quantica files generation interconnection applications with NorthWestern totaling 7,235 MW maximum nameplate (renewables, firming generation, battery storage); Billings Gazette reporting puts the gas-fired share at 1,785
    “The applications cover a mix of 7,235 MW of maximum additional capacity, including renewable and firming generation, plus battery storage”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Schedule slip: initial electric service was claimed as early as 2026 at announcement; the first building is now targeted for 2029 and NorthWestern describes the Quantica ramp (25 MW to 1.1 GW) as starting early 2029
    “The company hopes to bring the first building online in 2029”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • On-site generation: 1,785 MW
    “The Billings Gazette has reported the company plans 1,785 megawatts of gas-fired generation”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Stated campus size: 1,100 MW
    “filed interconnection applications with NorthWestern Energy to expand power generation for its 1,100 MW Big Sky Campus in Yellowstone County”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • On-site generation: 7,235 MW
    “The applications cover a mix of 7,235 MW of maximum additional capacity, including renewable and firming generation, plus battery storage”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • On-site power technology: solar, wind and battery storage planned by affiliates; firming generation proposed (natural gas ~1,785 MW per Gazette; geothermal mentioned in company statements); diesel backup reported by oppo
    “including renewable and firming generation, plus battery storage”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Generation interconnection: applications filed
    “Quantica's filing marks the starting point of NorthWestern Energy's formal interconnection review, which must begin years in advance of construction”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Substation: Broadview substation (existing, NorthWestern); Shorey Road to Broadview 21-mile transmission line ($25-30M) announced Feb 2025, completion expected 2028
    “The $25 to $30-million project includes upgrades to both substations alongside the 21-mile transmission line”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Stated campus size: 1,000 MW
    “The project would require a continuous supply of up to 1 gigawatt of power, which is more than the average load NorthWestern Energy uses to serve its 400,000-plus electricity customers.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Jurisdiction note: site is in unincorporated Yellowstone County in an area with no county zoning; no county land-use approval was required or obtained; county regulatory power is contested under the Montana Right to Comp
    “limited local oversight due to the absence of zoning in that area of Yellowstone County”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (23)
  • NorthWestern-Quantica LOI announced: load starting at 500 MW with phased growth to 1,000 MW by 2030
    “the projected energy load would start at 500 megawatts with phased growth to 1,000 megawatts by 2030”
    Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Tariff (proposed): framework
    “who anticipate electric loads of 5 megawatts (MW) or greater, titled Large New Load Service Tariff Rule, Rule No. 24”
    Utility regulator · March 2026 · grade A
  • Tariff (proposed): cost protection
    “establishes minimum contract terms and conditions to allow NorthWestern to recover, while insulating its existing customers from, costs associated with adding large new electricity supply loads”
    Utility regulator · March 2026 · grade A
  • Letter of Intent (electric service): scope 1,000 MW
    “the projected energy load would start at 500 megawatts with phased growth to 1,000 megawatts by 2030”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Letter of Intent (electric service): service start
    “could begin providing electric service as early as 2026”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Electric Service Agreement: finding not executed
    “In April 2026, we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support their proposed need. We are working with each of these parties to execute electric service agreements.”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • NorthWestern signs a development agreement with Quantica to evaluate transmission and generation needs; combined Sabey/Atlas/Quantica requirement restated as 150 MW beginning late 2027 growing to ~1,500 MW or more by 203
    “In April 2026, we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Development agreement: scope
    “we signed a development agreement with Quantica Infrastructure to evaluate the transmission infrastructure and generation resources needed to support their proposed need”
    Company · April 2026 · grade B
  • Development agreement: status no esa
    “We are working with each of these parties to execute electric service agreements”
    Company · April 2026 · grade B
  • Tariff (proposed): esa approval condition
    “for the largest commitments, 50 megawatts or greater, we would file the executed Electric Service Agreement with the MPSC for review and approval before service begins”
    Company · April 2026 · grade B
  • Tenants: not stated
    “No end-user has been selected and there are no details about who will use the computing power”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Tenant status: none announced (powered-land / speculative)
    “No end-user has been selected and there are no details about who will use the computing power”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Incentives: not stated
    “Documented absence: no county abatement, PILOT, or state incentive award for this campus found in sources checked”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Letter of Intent (electric service): finding missing clauses
    “On December 2, PSC issued Protective Order 8040, which shielded the letters of intent between NorthWestern and three data center developers from public disclosure”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Montana Property LLC purchases ~5,000 acres just south of Broadview (land assembled a decade earlier by Invenergy for the unbuilt Buffalo Trail Wind and Solar project, then held via Broad Reach Power/EnCap)
    “When a little-known company called Montana Property LLC purchased 5,000 acres just south of Broadview in 2024”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Billings Gazette reconstructs the land lineage: Invenergy (Buffalo Trail, 2015 interconnection request, never built) to Broad Reach Power (2020) to ENGIE acquisition (2023) with Montana assets left at EnCap to Quantica;
    “It's the same mailing address as Montana Property LLC, where the data center and its associated campus are slated to go”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Quantica quietly acquires mineral rights on and around the campus site (no price or acreage disclosed)
    “has quietly acquired mineral rights for land on and around its planned data center site situated near Broadview, Montana”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Mineral rights acquisition: acquisition
    “has quietly acquired mineral rights for land on and around its planned data center site situated near Broadview, Montana”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Financing: no project-level financing disclosed; EnCap sponsor equity only
    “developer of integrated digital infrastructure combining power, connectivity, and land, that is sponsored by EnCap Investments L.P.”
    News report · May 2026 · grade C
  • Development agreement: ramp terms reported 25 to 1,100 MW
    “ramping from 25 megawatts to 1.1 gigawatts with a targeted start date in early 2029”
    News report · April 2026 · grade C
  • Land purchase: acquisition 5000 acres
    “When a little-known company called Montana Property LLC purchased 5,000 acres just south of Broadview in 2024”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Letter of Intent (electric service): confidentiality
    “On December 2, PSC issued Protective Order 8040, which shielded the letters of intent between NorthWestern and three data center developers from public disclosure”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Statute constraining local regulation: statutory constraint
    “requires that any government regulation restricting ownership or use of computing resources be demonstrably necessary and narrowly tailored to fulfill a compelling government interest”
    News report · Sept. 2025 · grade C
Permits and government (17)
  • Air quality permit (MAQP): no application filed; pre-application discussions only
    “NorthWestern Energy-Yellowstone County Generating Station”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Montana DEQ opens public comment on the campus public water supply well (Madison aquifer; categorical exclusion review); comments close Oct 29, 2026
    “DEQ is requesting public comment for a proposed well for Quantica's Big Sky Campus near Broadview”
    State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Public water supply well: Under review - public comment open through Oct. 29, 2026; NO approval issued as of Oct. 18, 2026
    “The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requesting public comment for a proposed well for Quantica’s Big Sky Campus near Broadview, focusing specifically on groundwater protection and water quality standards.”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Public water supply well: categorical exclusion review opened; public comment period
    “The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requesting public comment for a proposed well for Quantica's Big Sky Campus near Broadview”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • PSC proceeding: complaint filed; contested case and hearing requested
    “create a separate customer class for data centers”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • PSC letter in Docket 2022.09.087 rejects NorthWestern's reading of MCA 69-8-201: Commission approval IS required before a utility serves a new customer of 5 MW or more
    “clarified that Commission approval IS required before such service begins”
    Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
  • Montana Public Service Commission: Letter in Docket 2022.09.087 on MCA 69-8-201 approval requirement for new customers of 5 MW or more
    “rejected Northwestern's contention that Mont. Code Ann. section 69-8-201 does not require PSC approval before a utility provides electric supply service to new customers”
    Company · July 2026 · grade B
  • PSC Protective Order 8040 (Docket 2022.09.087) seals the three data center LOIs after NorthWestern moved for protection in Sep 2025
    “On December 2, PSC issued Protective Order 8040, which shielded the letters of intent between NorthWestern and three data center developers from public disclosure”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Packed Yellowstone County commission meeting on the data center; board takes no action on placing a moratorium on the November ballot
    “We the people are fed up”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Montana Public Service Commission: 350 Montana emergency request to pause the NorthWestern-Black Hills merger case
    “the state's utility regulators turned down 350 Montana's request to pause the NorthWestern-Black Hills merger”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Montana Public Service Commission: Week-long evidentiary hearing, Docket 2025.10.078 (NorthWestern-Black Hills merger)
    “A five-member panel of Montana's utility regulators held a week-long hearing on the proposed merger in May”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Opposition: organized and active: Northern Plains Resource Council and MEIC; Earthjustice-led PSC complaint (Nov 2025); citizen ballot initiative failed on a deadline ruling after 14,980 signatures; county commissioners
    “meaningfully limits the county's ability to regulate data center development within its jurisdiction”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners: Letter to state legislators asking them to refine the Montana Right to Compute Act
    “meaningfully limits the county's ability to regulate data center development within its jurisdiction”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners: Data center ballot initiative failure aired; residents demand a moratorium vote
    “Industry knew the law better than the government administering it, and citizens bore the consequence”
    News report · Aug. 2026 · grade C
  • PSC proceeding: protective order issued sealing the three data center LOIs
    “On December 2, PSC issued Protective Order 8040, which shielded the letters of intent between NorthWestern and three data center developers from public disclosure”
    News report · March 2026 · grade C
  • Water right: no water rights held
    “Quantica doesn't currently possess any water rights, according to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • County land use: no approval required or obtained
    “limited local oversight due to the absence of zoning in that area of Yellowstone County”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
Legal (5)
  • Nine public-interest groups file a PSC complaint: NorthWestern intends 1,400 MW for Atlas/Sabey/Quantica against ~759 MW average retail load; contested case, separate data-center class and mandatory tariff terms requeste
    “NorthWestern's current average daily retail load is approximately 759 megawatts”
    Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Lawsuits: PSC complaint, Docket 2025.11 (filed Nov 2025); protective-order challenge in Docket 2022.09.087 (Mar 2026); Yellowstone County declaratory litigation over the ballot initiatives (2026)
    “create a separate customer class for data centers”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Public-interest groups move to overturn Protective Order 8040 under ARM 38.2.5008(3), arguing the LOIs are material to the pending large-load tariff case
    “yet those deals are shielded from public scrutiny by the protective order”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • County commissioners approve a letter asking state legislators to refine the Right to Compute Act; same day, the Montana Supreme Court restores the parallel Butte-Silver Bow initiative on a deadline issue
    “meaningfully limits the county's ability to regulate data center development within its jurisdiction”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • PSC denies 350 Montana's emergency stay in the NorthWestern-Black Hills merger docket (2025.10.078)
    “the state's utility regulators turned down 350 Montana's request to pause the NorthWestern-Black Hills merger”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
Site and other (32)
  • Quantica Infrastructure, LLC formed in Delaware
    “Quantica Infrastructure, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed on August 22, 2024”
    Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Second ballot initiative in preparation with the county: petition for Proposed Ordinance No. Feb. 2026 (approved as to form Sept. 23, 2026), targeting the May 4, 2027 ballot; the ordinance would require countywide two-thirds v
    “This measure would adopt an ordinance requiring that any new data center, any expansion of an existing data center, or the continued operation of any data center receive approval through a countywide election”
    Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
  • Site location: NE 1/4 of SW 1/4, Section 9, Township 3 North, Range 23 East, Yellowstone County - approx 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview (location of the DEQ-reviewed campus well)
    “The project is located in NE ¼ of SW ¼ of Section 9, Township 3 North, Range 23 East, approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview in Yellowstone County Montana.”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Water use projected: 150000 gpd during construction; 20000 gpd after construction
    “During construction of the data center, the Big Sky Campus is expected to use approximately 150,000 gallons of water per day (gpd). The total water use after construction is projected to be 20,000 gpd.”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • City: Broadview (unincorporated Yellowstone County)
    “approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview in Yellowstone County Montana”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • County: Yellowstone County
    “approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview in Yellowstone County Montana”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Cooling: closed-loop cooling (company design)
    “the well may also be used to provide cooling water to the data center's closed-loop cooling system”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Water use stated: 150000 gpd
    “During construction of the data center, the Big Sky Campus is expected to use approximately 150,000 gallons of water per day (gpd)”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Water use stated: 20000 gpd
    “The total water use after construction is projected to be 20,000 gpd”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade A
  • Developer: Quantica Infrastructure, LLC
    “Quantica Infrastructure, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company formed on August 22, 2024”
    Utility regulator · Nov. 2025 · grade A
  • Original target date: 2026
    “could begin providing electric service as early as 2026 and that the projected energy load would start at 500 megawatts”
    Utility regulator · July 2025 · grade A
  • County code: 30111
    “approximately 3.5 miles southeast of Broadview in Yellowstone County Montana”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • Water well proposal: MT DEQ public-comment review of Madison-aquifer public water well; 150,000 gpd during construction, 20,000 gpd after
    “During construction of the data center, the Big Sky Campus is expected to use approximately 150,000 gallons of water per day (gpd). The total water use after construction is projected to be 20,000 gpd.”
    State agency · Sept. 2026 · grade B
  • Name: Quantica Big Sky Campus
    “introduces its flagship development platform, Big Sky Digital Infrastructure LLC (BSDI), a 5,000-acre energy and digital infrastructure campus outside Billings, Montana”
    Company · Aug. 2025 · grade B
  • Aliases: Big Sky Campus; Big Sky Digital Infrastructure; BSDI
    “Quantica Infrastructure, LLC (Quantica) introduces its flagship development platform, Big Sky Digital Infrastructure LLC (BSDI)”
    Company · Aug. 2025 · grade B
  • Acres: 5000 acres
    “a 5,000-acre energy and digital infrastructure campus outside Billings, Montana”
    Company · Aug. 2025 · grade B
  • Site area acres: 5000 acres
    “When a little-known company called Montana Property LLC purchased 5,000 acres - around eight square miles - just south of Broadview in 2024”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Stage: announced; preliminary site work reported Sep 2026 (press)
    “Houston-based developer Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Delay (months): 36 months
    “Houston-based developer Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well. The company hopes to bring the first building online in 2029.”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Time to service (months): 27 months
    “ramping from 25 megawatts to 1.1 gigawatts with a targeted start date in early 2029”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • EnCap Investments launches Quantica Infrastructure; CEO/co-founder John Chesser (former Talen Energy CFO)
    “Investment firm EnCap announced the launch of Quantica last week”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Citizen ballot initiative fails: organizers collected 14,980 signatures (16,560 required) and were told the deadline was Aug 12, but a 2025 law had moved it to Jul 13; Quantica notified the county of the change in late J
    “Industry knew the law better than the government administering it, and citizens bore the consequence”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Montana Free Press poll: about 75% of registered voters opposed to data centers in their community or a neighboring county
    “about 75% of registered voters in the state said they were opposed to data centers being built in their community or even in a neighboring county”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Preliminary site work begins at the campus (access roads and a well); company hopes to bring the first building online in 2029
    “Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well”
    News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
  • Construction stage: Preliminary site work reported begun early Sep 2026 (access roads and a well); no building construction reported; first building hoped online 2029 (press)
    “Houston-based developer Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well.”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Land control: ~5,000 acres purchased in 2024 by Montana Property LLC; mineral rights on/around the site acquired in 2026
    “has quietly acquired mineral rights for land on and around its planned data center site situated near Broadview, Montana”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Current target date: 2029
    “The company hopes to bring the first building online in 2029”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Construction stage: preliminary site work (access roads and a well) began early September 2026; no vertical construction
    “Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September, including access roads and a well”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Developer headquarters: Houston, Texas
    “Houston-based developer Quantica Infrastructure began preliminary site work there in early September”
    News report · Sept. 2026 · grade C
  • Site area: 5000 acres
    “Quantica has secured a 5,000-acre property south of Broadview for the project, which it is calling Big Sky Digital Infrastructure.”
    News report · Jan. 2026 · grade C
  • Sponsor equity: EnCap Investments L.P. (EnCap Energy Transition platform)
    “Investment firm EnCap announced the launch of Quantica last week”
    News report · July 2025 · grade C
  • First announced: July 2025
    “Investment firm EnCap announced the launch of Quantica last week”
    News report · July 2025 · grade C

Imagery and records: Satellite imagery: Maxar via Esri World Imagery Wayback.