Olney Welcomes Project Saltworks Data Center

An informational meeting for Project Saltworks, a proposed data center planned for southern Young County, drew about 30 residents to the Olney Civic Center on Feb. 5, offering a markedly different reception than similar meetings held in Graham.

In Olney, where the project could generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue for the local hospital and city services, the tone was largely receptive. That contrasted with opposition voiced in Graham, where landowners whose property abuts the proposed site have raised concerns about environmental impacts, water use, and long-term quality of life. The naysayers have vowed to unseat county officials who support the project in the March 3 primary election, which will decide the races for Precinct 2 and Precinct 4 county commissioner and the county judge race.

Project representatives presented videos and large, poster-sized illustrations detailing the scope and layout of the data center, which is expected to be built on approximately 900 acres in southern Young County.

Among those attending was Olney City Councilmember Steven Nurre, who said his questions were answered during the meeting and that he believed the project would be a net positive for the city.

Olney Hamilton Hospital board member Ron Rogers said he was optimistic about what the project could mean for the hospital’s financial future. The hospital issued $33 million in general revenue bonds to construct a new facility to replace the existing hospital, originally built in the 1920s with an addition completed in 1964. The hospital recently cut maternity care in June from both the existing hospital and the new hospital because of rising costs of materials and services.

Mr. Rogers said additional tax revenue generated by the data center could help stabilize and strengthen hospital operations as the community transitions into the new facility.

Olney Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Tom Parker said the project aligns with broader efforts to position Olney for long-term growth.

Mr. Parker said new tax revenue could support expanded housing options, upgrades to aging infrastructure — including deteriorating roadways and water pipes — and help attract additional businesses to Olney and across Young County.

Precinct 3 County Commissioner Alan Craig, who represents Olney and Newcastle, addressed one of the most common criticisms raised by opponents of the project: that data centers bring relatively few permanent jobs once construction is complete.

Mr. Craig said that criticism overlooks the economic impact of the extended construction phase, which he said could last between five and 10 years.

He noted that during construction, heavier traffic and a projected 1,500 construction workers — many of whom currently have no local housing options — would provide sustained business for hotels, restaurants, and retail shops. Mr. Craig said long-term tax revenue from the project could help lift the fortunes of both Olney and Graham, which have struggled for decades to replace tax revenue from oil.

Energy use remained a concern for some residents. Kendall Montgomery, general manager- CEO of Fort Belknap Electric Cooperative, said his company would not directly benefit from the data center and that he is still evaluating the broader impact of large, energy- intensive facilities.

Mr. Montgomery said that regardless of whether the Project Saltworks data center is built in Young County or elsewhere, power costs for residents could rise unless ERCOT increases overall grid capacity.

Precinct 4 Commissioner Jimmy Wiley, who is not seeking re-election, and Precinct 2 Commissioner Scott Shook — in whose precinct the data center site is located — also attended the meeting.

Young County Judge Win Graham, who faces two anti-data center challengers in the March 3 Republican primary, said he expects representatives from Project Saltworks to approach the county within the next few weeks to request a tax abatement.

Curtis Miller, a project development manager for Stream Data Centers, said the project remains on schedule, with planning and design expected to conclude in 2026 and construction anticipated to begin in 2027.

Mr. Miller said the project’s initial phase alone would represent between $1 billion and $1.5 billion in taxable value, an amount he said exceeds the entire current tax base of Young County. He said that scale of investment is what makes Project Saltworks financially significant for local taxing entities, including cities, the county and school districts.

While the data center would employ a relatively small permanent workforce, Mr. Miller said each building would support 20 to 30 full-time employees, with hundreds more jobs generated through contracted services. Those contractors would include workers in HVAC, electrical systems, security, landscaping, cleaning services and small remodel projects, creating ongoing demand for skilled labor beyond the construction phase.

Mr. Miller said those support roles present opportunities for local workforce development and small businesses, even after the facility becomes operational.