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- 1 Crypto mining has become one of the major issues for many US counties recently.
- 2 Haywood County is the latest addition to the list.
Lawmakers in Haywood County, North Carolina, have reportedly proposed regulations for crypto mining during a commissioners’ meeting. The regulators have spent nine months developing these laws. Machines used for digital asset mining use immense energy and the constant drone sound increases during the night.
Crypto Mining Is Not Beneficial
The Mountaineer, a local print and online newspaper, first reported on the issue. Haywood County development services director, Jodie Ferguson, said during a public hearing: “Crypto mines are loud and the mining capacity is increased at nighttime. Crypto mines use tremendous amounts of electricity, create very few jobs, and avoid business equipment taxes by leasing the mining equipment.”
Owing to the scarce noise protection laws, the regulators cannot impose restrictions on just one industry. This prompted the decision to amend an existing high-impact ordinance mandating crypto mining establishments be located at a minimum of 750 feet from any neighboring line.
Haywood’s high-impact ordinance prevents certain activities including quarrying, hazardous waste facilities, landfills, and more from being conducted within a range of sites holding “vulnerable population.” Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley criticized crypto mining companies, saying that, “They offer no jobs or economic benefits to the county, only noise and a drain on the electric grid.” Adding that, “They can only be categorized as a nuisance.”
Incidents of people complaining about noise pollution disrupting lives have increased recently. A suspected crypto mining company in Wolfe County, Kentucky, has disrupted the lives of citizens. They also report damage to the region’s bird population. The company is reportedly operating more data centers in multiple locations.
Recently, a community in Arkansas, a US state, came together to prevent a crypto mining company from coming to the region. The members were concerned about the negative impact of crypto mining on the environment. Another case erupted in July 2023 wherein the city council in Vilonia decided to bar a crypto miner from operating.
The cheap electricity in states including Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, and more is pulling miners to these lands. Crypto mining is an energy-intensive process given the advanced equipment required to orchestrate the process. Bitcoin (BTC) is by far the most preferred virtual currency of choice for mining.
Some activists called out Riot Platforms, a crypto miner, during the Texas Week of Action. The company is developing the biggest crypto-mining facility in Corsicana, Texas. The development could strain the state’s already stressed power grid. Data shows Riot consumes 450 MW of electricity annually.
A recent study by the United Nations (UN) shed light on multifaceted exploitation reportedly taking place due to Bitcoin mining. BTC has a land footprint of nearly 1900 Km3 and a water footprint of 1.65 Km3. The former figure translates to 1.4 times the area of Los Angeles while the latter is sufficient to quench 300 Million Sub-Saharan Africans.
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.
