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Facepalm: Bitcoin mining has long been criticized for consuming excessive amounts of electricity while offering minimal financial benefits to society. However, cryptocurrency mining can also have negative impacts on public health, as a group of citizens in Texas recently discovered through a lawsuit.
A mining facility operated by Marathon Digital near Granbury, Texas, has been generating excessive noise, prompting a group of residents to organize and sue the company in an effort to reclaim their peace and quiet. The group, called Citizens Concerned About Wolf Hollow, is urging MD to stop using CPUs and GPUs to convert electricity into cryptocurrency, as the noise from the facility's cooling systems is causing serious health issues for nearby residents.
The group, represented by the non-profit environmental law firm Earthjustice, is seeking a permanent injunction against MD's facility unless it can reduce its noise pollution. Marathon Digital's 300-megawatt mining facility is located alongside the Wolf Hollow II gas power plant. The company is even considering expanding the plant, which would enable it to mine more Bitcoin but also release an additional 760,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) annually.
Granbury residents have opposed the expansion plan, as the existing plant already generates excessive noise, especially at night. Marathon uses a combination of liquid immersion and fans to cool its 20,000 computing units, but nearby residents report that the fans produce a constant low hum that can be heard throughout the neighborhood.
Earthjustice lawyers reported that more than two dozen individuals have suffered direct health issues due to noise pollution from the plant. Symptoms include vertigo, hearing loss, migraines, fatigue, anxiety, and tinnitus. Earthjustice senior attorney Rodrigo Cantú emphasized that being deprived of proper sleep or having to endure constant background noise can have an "unreasonable" impact on overall health.
Marathon Digital, however, disputed the residents' claims. The company stated that 30 percent of its computing units have already been converted to liquid immersion cooling, with plans to reach 50 percent by the end of the year. MD asserted that the facility's noise levels are within normal operating ranges and that the alleged health problems caused by the fans have no scientific basis.
Texas is home to numerous cryptocurrency mining operations, thanks to its low taxes, available land, and minimal regulations. While the rise of generative AI has somewhat overshadowed Bitcoin, the virtual currency can still turn a profit – if enough energy is used.
An upcoming HBO documentary is expected to reveal the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious figure who developed Bitcoin technology in 2008.
Image credit: Inside Climate News