A petition for voter approval on data center developments in Yellowstone County missed its signature deadline three weeks ago. This change was revealed in a memo by the Yellowstone County Attorney’s Office. Originally, signature gatherers aimed for an August 12 deadline set by the Yellowstone County Election Department. However, a state statute brought to attention by developer Quantica Infrastructure led to a revised July 13 deadline.
The updated deadline was reported by the Billings Gazette. Quantica plans a 5,000-acre data center near Broadview, roughly 30 miles north of Billings, Montana. The development will feature 12 to 16 sizable buildings, covering 7.8 square miles, with energy demands projected at 1,100 megawatts.
Local resident Kassi Solberg led the Yellowstone County Ballot Initiative, intending to require voter consent for any data center venture in the county. Solberg aimed to secure 16,650 signatures by the August deadline. But the memo indicated the actual deadline had already passed.
Attorney Scott Twito conveyed the election department’s reliance on Montana Code Annotated § 13-12-201 in setting the initial deadline. Following Quantica’s July 30 notification, Montana Code Annotated § 13-28-206 was deemed applicable, mandating a July 13 deadline. Twito confirmed that Solberg’s petition aligns with local initiative rules, not ballot certifications.
In a memo, Twito advised informing Solberg of the revised deadline, acknowledging that “the signature submission deadline appears to have passed.” Quantica representative Travis Hall did not comment when asked.
Brian Miller, a U.S. House candidate working with Solberg, argued that using the July deadline is unconstitutional, saying, “I think it raises a serious constitutional question.” Miller intends to challenge the exclusion of signatures submitted post-July 13, asserting it infringes on petition rights. “You’re messing with people’s rights here,” he added.
Twito seeks further guidance from Montana’s secretary of state but currently advises against accepting additional signatures, pending court intervention.
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