An Oklahoma data center opponent is getting attention from more than around Claremore and northeast Oklahoma.
After his recent arrest for speaking beyond the 3-minute time limit at a recent Claremore City Council meeting, Darren Blanchard caught the attention of some out-of-state data center opponents.
He was scheduled to speak this week in the small Montana town of Broadview where residents ae fighting a proposed 5,000-acre project. Leaders invited Blanchard to be a speaker.
The project in question is a proposed Big Sky Digital Infrastructure campus by Quantica Infrastructure. But many of the residents of the town of more than 100 worry about the potential impact on their community that is located about 30 miles north of Billings.
Cari Olson lives in Broadview and started the group called Just One Montanan. She’s trying to convince legislators to take action before approving data center projects in the state.
Anne Hedges, Executive Director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, has been organizing town hall meetings to discuss the potential data centers in Montana, including Broadview reported NonStop Local.
That’s why Blanchard was asked to speak to the group. Known for opposing a solar farm proposed at Wagoner County, he also spoke openly against a data center in Claremore where he recently was led off in handcuffs from the city council meeting for speaking too long. He asked for more time but city leaders ordered police to arrest him.
Blanchard agrees with those in Montana who raised concerns about the extensive amounts of water that would be needed. He explained many towns like Broadview are so-called “tank towns” where water is trucked in to the community.
He said he was asked by the Montana group to share his story about fighting transmission lines, data centers, solar and wind projects and battery storage efforts.
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