Opinion: Stories that Should be News... But Aren't

A bit different this week: I’ve listened about the data centers needed for AI; the power required to operate, along with the amount of water, makes it a bit frightening. Then I received an email from a trusted friend, complete with links.

In August of 2025, The Missoulian ran a story about Northwestern Energy’s plans for an AI data center, which would be the largest in the state and require 1,000 megawatts of energy (enough to power 800,000 homes). The Missoulian reported the 2024 census stated there are 539,670 housing units.

Water usage? According to a June 2025 study by the Environmental an...