Home
News
- 1 The suspected crypto mining facility arrived in March 2023.
- 2 A job posting hints at the operations of the facility.
Wolfe County in Kentucky is known for its serenity. It is a small area with a concentrated population that has been living in peace until now. Like several U.S. states, Kentucky is no exception to the rising interest of crypto miners toward the state’s cheap energy.
The Noise is Going to Get Worse
The Kentucky Lantern, a local news media, first reported the issue on October 9, 2023, when a local resident, Brenda Campbell, told them about the penetrating noise from a suspected crypto mining facility disrupting rural life. Artemis Power Tech, a Texas-based company, is allegedly operating data centers filled with high-powered computers mining cryptocurrencies.
Several cryptocurrencies use a consensus mechanism called Proof-of-Work (PoW), where a large number of crypto miners try to solve complex mathematical problems to mine blocks of crypto. In turn, they are rewarded with a certain amount of digital tokens or coins like Bitcoin (BTC), having an in-real-life (IRL) value for every block mined.
Artemis Power Tech entered the area just six months back. Campbell told The Kentucky Lantern that she remembers electrical lines being installed in March 2021. Although it is unclear if the company is into crypto mining operations or not, a job posting on a Chinese forum describing them as “a leading blockchain technology company” hints at operations associated with mining virtual currencies.
Additionally, the company website showcases its data center projects in Campton, Atoka, and Houston.
Wolfe County denizens are concerned about the worsening noise landscape in Fall as the trees prepare for abscission. Months between September-November serve as Fall in Kentucky, which is also considered the best time to visit the State. However, progress in cases like this may dissolve this crown, never to be borne by any of the seasons.
The drone arising from the facility’s devices has also affected the bird population, Campbell told The Kentucky Lantern. The news media writes, “Her daughter, Shannon Foster, has had trouble finding local owls since the operation fired up.” According to the Kentucky Bird Records Committee (KRBC), nearly 400 species of birds inhabit the state.
Crypto Mining Is Not Doing Any Good
Noise pollution from crypto mining is becoming a vital concern besides carbon emissions. An Arkansas citizen complained about her son having a meltdown, attributing to the drone coming from a nearby crypto mining facility. Some activists joined hands in Texas to speak about the environmental impact of mining virtual currencies.
Bryan King, a Senator from Arkansas District 28, is outspoken about crypto mining in his state. The U.S. has seen an influx of crypto miners since the Chinese government disavowed crypto mining activities in the country. This has rendered the United States the biggest crypto hash rate producer globally.
Halving, a recurring event increasing Bitcoin mining difficulty, could prove deteriorating for several States given that the profit-hunting crypto miners may annex their crypto mining fleet. A rise in energy demand may also put a strain on power grids in a range of locations.
Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.
