Cryptocurrency mining is stressing the Texas power grid and causing “unexplained health problems,” for residents of some small towns in the state, according to a new report from the San Antonio Express-News Thursday. And opposition to the crypto operations isn’t necessarily coming from the people you might expect. But one crypto company that’s gotten heat for its operations is pushing back against allegations that it’s causing health problems for local residents.
The report from the Express-News details a meeting earlier this week about plans for a new 300-megawatt power plant from Constellation Energy near the town of Granbury. The plant is new but would be in addition to existing power facilities already used by Marathon Digital, a Florida-based crypto company, which appears to prefer calling its endeavors in the area a “digital asset data center,” according to a company website.
The Express-News cites the “unyielding low-frequency sound waves” that have caused locals to lose sleep since the crypto mine opened in 2022. The “constant noise,” as the report puts it, is “emanating from thousands of fans,” that are necessary to cool the mining equipment. The report quotes an 81-year-old man who lives just 800 feet from the Constellation Energy property and spoke at a public meeting with company representatives on Monday, saying, “It’s not right. Y’all moved in on top of us. We didn’t move in on y’all.”
The Express-News spoke with people who allege a range of health issues such as hypertension are hearing loss are due to crypto mining operations. One person who spoke with the newspaper even seemed to suggest a mass found in her mother’s brain could be connected, insisting “doctors are baffled after determining that the mass is not a tumor.”
The meeting on Monday included five representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as well as two environmental consultants from Constellation, according to the report. The newspaper also noted that many of the town residents at the meeting to complain were older middle-aged white guys wearing attire supporting Donald Trump. The former president has repeatedly said he wants to unleash U.S. energy from fossil fuels, often suggesting that President Joe Biden has somehow stopped energy production in this country. That, of course, is a lie, given the fact that the U.S. is currently producing more energy than any country in human history. But it’s still notable that people who are aligned with right-wing causes are so upset about the power plants.
Marathon Digital stressed to Gizmodo that it has studied the alleged noise issues, including on July 18, 2024, when it says an independent consultant conducted a sound study of the Granbury data center.
“We are unaware of any scientific basis to conclude that any sounds from our facility can cause the types of conditions alleged or did cause them in any of those who have expressed concerns,” a spokesperson for Marathon said in an email to Gizmodo Thursday.
The statement also said Marathon “is committed to being a thoughtful neighbor” and the company “continues to take steps to enhance the data center,” promising that enhancements are being made for the “betterment of the community.”
Constellation has also released several statements in recent months about the noise complaints from residents in an attempt to address the concerns at the energy facility, known as Wolf Hollow II.
“Constellation and our team at Wolf Hollow II have been closely monitoring the noise situation at the bitcoin facility next to the plant, including the recent town hall meetings and news coverage,” one statement from June reads. “As a proud member of the Hood County community, we take the concerns local residents have raised seriously. We are in regular, direct conversations with residents. We hear the concerns, and we are working closely with the bitcoin facility’s owner to look for ways to reduce noise and address the community’s concerns.”
Marathon Digital also has a publicly-facing Frequently Asked Questions page online that stresses it’s working on the noise issues.
“Recent progress includes deactivating over eighty air-cooled containers, starting an extension of the sound wall, and beginning to convert containers to liquid immersion cooling,” the company explains. “We will continue to deactivate air-cooled containers and convert containers to immersion cooling. Additionally, we’ve budgeted $100,000+ to support local schools, nonprofits, and projects in 2024.”
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