Frequently Asked Questions
The information below reflects where the project stands today. As planning progresses and more details are confirmed, these responses will be updated to provide additional clarity.
- Big Sky Digital Infrastructure Project Overview
Big Sky Digital Infrastructure (BSDI) is Quantica Infrastructure's flagship 5,100-acre integrated energy and digital infrastructure campus located in Yellowstone County, approximately 30 miles north of Billings and 3.5 miles outside of Broadview, Montana.
The project combines:
- • On-site renewable energy, firming power, and energy storage to keep power reliable,
- • Network connections to major markets, like building a high-speed internet highway, and
- • A campus designed to support high-tech companies.
Montana combines abundant energy potential, a supportive business environment, and a skilled workforce to power the next generation of digital infrastructure while strengthening local communities.
- • Abundant energy resource potential, with the ability to invest in and construct new power generation
- • Business-friendly environment with guardrails that promote responsible development
- • An opportunity to close the digital divide and improve connectivity across the state
- • Access to a highly skilled workforce with a strong work ethic
The location of the site offers:
- • Proximity to existing power infrastructure, like substations and transmission lines,
- • Easy access to highways and rail for moving equipment and materials, and
- • Strong connectivity linking the West Coast, Salt Lake City, and the Midwest.
Quantica leases land from private landowners in Yellowstone, Stillwater, and Golden Valley counties. The company is evaluating renewable energy and firming power, such as natural gas, for portions of that land. Specific plans have not been finalized, and we will share additional information as project evaluations progress.
Big Sky Digital Infrastructure is responsible for the development of the Big Sky Campus, a 5,100 acre development in Yellowstone County. Quantica is responsible for site selection and then building the power and connectivity to the campus.
- Electricity & Grid Impacts
As part of Quantica’s Paying Our Own Way approach, Quantica will fund the generation and infrastructure required to serve the Campus, ensuring the project’s power needs are met without shifting costs.
The planned energy supply includes a mix of renewable generation and on‑demand capacity located near the site, which helps minimize the need for additional transmission infrastructure.
Like other businesses operating in Montana, Quantica will rely on NorthWestern Energy for transmission service at the Big Sky Digital Infrastructure Campus.
No. Quantica and its potential customers will pay the cost of electricity infrastructure and any new power generation needed to serve their projects.
- • Those investments also deliver broader system benefits, including improved reliability and upgrades to aging infrastructure such as substations that otherwise could fall to other ratepayers.
- • By spreading fixed system costs across more usage, large projects can also help put downward pressure on rates over time.
Ratepayer Protection Pledge: Top technology companies signed a pledge to “build, bring, or buy” all the power their new data centers need and pay the full cost of associated grid and infrastructure upgrades so that households are not hit with higher electricity rates due to increased energy demand.
Additional Consumer Protections: NorthWestern Energy (NWE) and regulators are implementing safeguards to protect existing customers:
Large New Load Tariff Rule: In March 2026, NWE filed with the Public Service Commission its proposed Large New Load Tariff Rule that requires data centers and other large-load customers to:
- • Not shift costs to residential or small business ratepayers,
- • Pay their full costs of associated transmission, generation, and distribution,
- • Upfront investment to cover costs for building the infrastructure, and
- • Pay exit fees if they leave before infrastructure costs are recovered.
Continuing Regulatory Oversight: Rates must be approved by the Montana Public Service Commission
Under the Large New Load Tariff Rule framework, data center customers will pay for:
- • Infrastructure upgrades required to deliver power to the site
- • Distribution system improvements
- • Ongoing maintenance costs
This approach is consistent with how Quantica’s potential customers operate: They pay for the electricity, grid interconnection, and associated infrastructure needed for their projects. In many cases, those investments also strengthen the broader grid through increasing resiliency and upgrading aging equipment.
BSDI's design enhances grid reliability for the state:
- • On-site infrastructure and storage help keep the power steady and reduce strain during high-demand times.
- • Using a mix of power sources adds reliability.
- • NWE’s ratepayers won’t be impacted by the project; NWE has committed to protecting other customers, including residential and small business customers, through the Large New Load Tariff Rule.
Energy storage can help stabilize the grid during high-demand periods.
Project partners also recognize that large-load investment can create system-wide benefits beyond the project itself, including substation and infrastructure upgrades that improve resilience during weather events and other periods of system stress.
An interconnect filing formally requests the connection of a private energy generating system (such as solar panels, wind turbines, or batteries) to a utility's electrical grid. The utility reviews the filing to guarantee grid safety and to ensure system compatibility.
Quantica filed interconnection applications with NorthWestern Energy to expand power generation for its 1,100 megawatt (MW) Big Sky Campus in Yellowstone County. The expanded power is designed to support potential long-term demand at the Campus while supporting regional grid reliability.
As part of BSDI’s ‘Paying Our Own Way’ approach to power, we will fund the generation and infrastructure needed to serve the campus, ensuring that the project’s power needs are met without shifting costs to Montana ratepayers.
There are two primary reasons for the 7,235 MW request. First, Quantica is in the planning stages for power to serve the Campus. Projects like Big Sky Digital Infrastructure require significant planning and coordination with the utility to determine a power supply that can be developed responsibly and cost-effectively. Different mixes of energy resources all have to be studied at the same time.
Ultimately, there is significant time between the filing and expected operation of the first building on the Big Sky Campus in Yellowstone County. And when an interconnection filing is reviewed and approved, a party can always generate less power than what was applied and approved for, but a party can't generate more than applied and approved for.
Second, while the total generation in the interconnection filing is 7,235 MW of maximum generation capacity, maximum generation capacity will never be reached since renewable energy sources (like wind and solar) are intermittent. Because the sun isn't always shining and the wind isn't always blowing, solar and wind power generation cannot meet their maximum generation capacity, only a small fraction of it.
Electrical generation is measured by “nameplate MW,” which is the maximum amount of generation possible. This is not the same as its actual generation expected to be produced.
For example, let’s say you own a home and use solar panels. The maximum generation for a solar panel on a home may be 400 watts, but that solar panel likely produces only 15% to 25% of its maximum rated power on average, depending on the weather, angle, and sun availability.
Using that example on a larger scale, 100 MW solar plant may only generate 25 MW of electricity. A 100 MW wind plant may only generate 35 MW of electricity.
As a responsible developer and with a leadership team with deep Montana roots, we want to ensure we comply with all applicable regulations, and we want to be good stewards of our land and resources.
Our project heavily features renewable energy resources. Ultimately, though, the sun isn't always shining and the wind isn't always blowing, so solar and wind power generation can only meet a fraction of their maximum generation capacity.
And the project will require a certain level of reliable, consistent baseload power. We are exploring natural gas as an option for an energy resource.
We’re in early discussions with Montana regulators to better understand the process and requirements associated with not only power resources, but also water and other resources.
Specifically, we’re evaluating the requirements with the on-demand power solutions, including natural gas. It’s not unusual for projects like these that additional power resources are still being evaluated and refined at this stage.
And whatever mix of energy resources we use, we’re paying our own way for power. We’ll fund the generation and infrastructure needed to serve the campus, ensuring that the project’s power needs are met without putting the costs on Montana ratepayers.
- Network & Connectivity
Yes. Quantica plans to develop new conduit network that will connect the Big Sky Campus to major connectivity hubs. Our approach is intended to enhance connectivity and support future growth in Montana and beyond.
- Water Resources
Quantica and its target customers take water stewardship seriously.
While the final site and building design are still being determined and could change some of our estimates marginally, early planning shows water use would be minimal by industrial standards. We anticipate that the project will use water only for domestic purposes – and not for cooling.
We are looking into water infrastructure improvements, which would also benefit surrounding communities.
No. Current planning indicates the project is expected to have minimal water use by industrial standards.
All water usage and water quality will be in accordance with the rules set by DNRC and DEQ to ensure the project does not interfere with community or agricultural water needs.
You can find more details on water regulations in the DEQ’s Data Center FAQ.
- Community Impacts
Construction will generate temporary truck traffic. We are working on:
- • Designated construction routes to minimize impacts on local roads,
- • Traffic management plans to reduce congestion during peak hours, and
- • Communication with neighbors about construction schedules.
Project partners also recognize that any roadway upgrades needed for construction create a lasting infrastructure benefit for the region when planned in coordination with Yellowstone County and the City of Broadview. Transportation planning will be coordinated to reduce disruption and support community needs.
We will be coordinating with:
- • Yellowstone County Emergency Services,
- • Local fire departments and EMS, and
- • Law enforcement.
BSDI will:
- • Provide on-site fire suppression systems,
- • Employ on-site security and safety staff, and
- • Coordinate emergency response plans with local agencies.
The tax revenue generated from projects like these supports public health services, public safety, and emergency services.
Data centers are also built with strong fire suppression and safety systems, so they can handle most issues on-site without needing outside emergency response.
No. Modern data centers are generally among the quietest industrial neighbors. The noise level, standing right in front of a modern data center, is approximately 60-70 decibels (dBA). This noise level is generally equivalent to a conversation at a restaurant or a residential washing machine.
Our target customers design facilities with substantial setbacks, buffers, and low-noise equipment.
The BSDI Campus has sufficient land to accommodate setbacks and buffering to further reduce noise.
Older buildings, particularly bitcoin mines, generate substantially more noise and are not our intended customers.
- Economic & Job Opportunities
Data centers are the backbone of the modern digital economy and represent a compelling economic development opportunity for Montana. Projects like BSDI can generate significant tax revenue for schools, fire departments, water services, and other local services, while creating high-quality jobs and supporting broader economic growth.
Quantica has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southeast Montana Building and Construction Trades Council to set the foundation for how this project will be built. The MOU commits Quantica to union-built construction, a priority for hiring local and qualified workers, apprenticeship and training pathways, and specific efforts to bring more people — including those from underrepresented communities — into the skilled trades. Think of it as a formal handshake agreement that puts local labor at the center of this project before a single shovel hits the ground. The details of individual contractor agreements and specific workforce numbers will be developed as construction phases move forward.
- • Partnerships with Montana trade schools, apprenticeship programs, and workforce agencies;
- • Local contractor preference for construction and ongoing operations; and
- • Workforce development programs to train Montanans for data center careers.
- • Economic benefit to the community,
- • Emergency response, and
- • Long-term community relationships.
Yes. That is a core commitment in the MOU. The agreement establishes a priority for qualified local union workers, meaning Montanans, and specifically workers from Yellowstone County and surrounding communities, will have first access to job opportunities on this project.
The MOU also includes specific provisions to expand pathways for underrepresented communities in the construction trades. That means actively working to recruit, train, and support workers from groups that have historically had limited access to apprenticeship programs and union construction careers. A project of this scale creates real economic opportunity, and we want that opportunity to be genuinely accessible, not just available in theory.
A project at this scale requires a wide range of skilled crafts over multiple construction phases. Workers needed will include, but are not limited to, electricians, pipefitters, carpenters, and more. These are journeyman-level craft positions, skilled, well-paying jobs with benefits and union protections. Beyond construction, the project will also generate demand for technical operations roles once the campus is running.
- Environmental & Permitting
BSDI is committed to responsible development. We will continue complying with all applicable environmental laws as we develop the project.
BSDI is seeking to minimize impacts on water, wildlife, cultural resources, air, soil, and noise.
- Transparency & Accountability
As planning advances, Quantica will share more information about how project partners and potential customers approach responsible development.
Resources for the BSDI Project are available at:
- • Quantica hosts weekly office hours on Wednesdays from 10 am – 2 pm at the
Big Sky Digital Infrastructure office located at 16652 Montana Avenue, Broadview, MT 59015 - • BSDI website: Updates, FAQs, and contact information
- • The ‘Big Sky Digital Infrastructure – BSDI' Facebook Page
We welcome continued conversations and will share updates as key stages are completed.