Data Centers

Montana: World’s Premiere Data Center Location

Montana is well known for its spectacular unspoiled nature, access to world-class outdoor recreation, and pristine air and water. Still, Montana offers far more than an exceptional quality of life. These resources contribute to an ideal location for large data center development. Paired with access to the lowest market power rates in the country and an outstanding tax incentive package for building large data centers, Montana is one of the premier data center locations on the planet.

Tax Incentives

Class 17 Property tax classification for qualifying data centers: 25,000 square feet of new or expanded area, where the total cost of land, improvements, personal property, and software is at least $50 million invested during a 48-month period with construction commencing after January 1, 2019.

Power

Montana’s power resources, water and climate are ideal for large data center development. Montana is a choice customer state. Consumers that use 5 megawatts or greater have the right to purchase their electricity from any power provider of their choosing. Montana is home to some of the best renewable generation in the country. In-state hydroelectricity and wind generation are available for power purchase contracts at competitive market rates. Renewable energy development projects are also available.

Water

As the headwater region of the continent, the State of Montana is an ideal place for data center development. The state has identified the best sites for data center development. All sites have ample water supply and can provide volumes needed for cooling large data centers. Water conservation is encouraged across industries in Montana. Montana’s cool, dry climate is ideal for air cooling operations of data centers.

Climate

Montana is home to one of the most stable four-season climates in the country. Average daytime temperatures vary from 28° F (-2° C) in January to 84.5° F (29.2° C) in July. Montana has a dry, semi-arid desert climate which makes it an ideal atmosphere to utilize air-cooling.
Montana’s climate and geology provides a safe, cost-effective environment for data storage. The state’s benign environment carries a very low risk factor for natural disasters and catastrophic events. This operating environment helps to ensure uninterrupted data center operations year-round.

Montana Tax Climate And Incentives For Data Center Development & Operations

The 2019 Montana Legislature revised the tax classification for certain qualifying data centers. Developed initially in 2017 by the Montana Department of Commerce after discussion with industry leaders, this 2019 amended law expanded the definition for qualifying data centers giving more data center developers certainty in how these properties will be assessed.

Montana’s data center property tax classification – Class 17, defined

A "Qualified data center" means the land, improvements, and personal property of a facility designed or modified to house networked computers or equipment supporting computing, networking, or data storage that is: composed of one or more buildings under single ownership on contiguous parcels of land that consist of at least: 300,000 square feet, where the total cost of land, improvements, personal property, and software is at least $150 million; and commences construction after June 30, 2017; or 25,000 square feet of new or expanded area, where the total cost of land, improvements, personal property, and software is at least $50 million invested during a 48-month period with construction commencing after January 1, 2019.

Improved Tax Abatement

Data centers’ property tax liability may be reduced by 75% or 50% of their taxable value in the first five years after a construction permit is issued. Each year thereafter, the percentage must increase by equal percentages until the full taxable value is attained in the tenth year. Tax abatements must be approved by the corresponding county jurisdiction.A local option property tax abatement can greatly reduce a company’s local tax burden over a ten-year period. State tax liability is not reduced by the local option abatement. Using the development assumptions for a Class 17 data center from above we can estimate property tax savings as a result of the local option abatement.

These figures do not account for depreciation, may vary slightly by levy district, and are only estimates as provided by the Montana Department of Commerce.