Data center developments banned by Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council

The ban on data center projects extends to tribal employees and “any person or entity” that attempts to move forward with one, according to the resolution, which refers to the centers as “contrary to the health, general welfare, resource protection, and sovereign interests of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.”

The council cited stress on water resources and the potential of increases to tribal citizen’s utility bills as further reasons for the ban.

For the second day this week the council conducted business away from the Little Wolf Capitol Building in Lame Deer, Montana. The building is closed due to public safety concerns, after a year of turmoil.

Tuesday’s meeting, which was posted on Facebook, also included annual approval of ad-hoc committees to handle matters on gaming, land, grazing and child welfare.

Cheyenne Tribe council spokesperson Ryhal Rowland said in an interview Wednesday that the data center ban goes into effect immediately.

The resolution also bans projects promoted as “server farms, cloud campuses, artificial intelligence, infrastructure, digital processing facilities, cold location facilities, hyperscale facilities, cryptocurrency mining facilities, or by any similar name or description.”