Janice R. Andrews
A 2021 Wall Street Journal investigation disclosed that some power facilities are being converted for the purpose of mining Bitcoin, which is an unexpected development. These factories are now preparing for the lucrative business of mining cryptocurrencies rather than mining for coal, gold, or iron. This change is the result of fossil fuel plants—especially those that use coal—struggling to survive in the face of the growing popularity of renewable energy sources.
New York and Montana are two places that are witnessing this change, as abandoned coal-fired power stations are being transformed into centers for Bitcoin mining. It is indisputable that mining cryptocurrencies is profitable; according to Bitcoin Magazine, in just March of last year, the sector brought in over $2 billion in transaction fees and block rewards. The U.S. Energy Information Administration identified 137 facilities devoted to cryptocurrency mining as of February 2024, indicating the growing popularity of this activity.
This increase in Bitcoin mining hasn’t, however, been without controversy. A recent Time article emphasizes the negative effects on the neighborhood of Granbury, Texas, from a Bitcoin mining operation. Locals have linked the mine’s continuous noise to a number of health problems, such as panic attacks, headaches, vertigo, and palpitations in the heart.
This problem began in 2021 when Constellation Energy agreed to supply electricity for a Bitcoin mining facility at the Granbury gas plant, Wolf Hollow II. Today, 163 metal boxes run by Marathon Digital Holdings store approximately 30,000 computers at the location. Since they began operating two years ago, these devices have mined Bitcoin with enormous amounts of electricity. An story from the New York Times in 2021 states that the production of Bitcoin uses about 91 terawatt-hours of electricity yearly.
Thousands of fans are utilized to cool the computers in order to control the heat produced by the devices. The noise has increased with the activation of more machinery, and it is primarily coming from this cooling system. The noise level has increased to 91 dB, which is about the same as a lawnmower. To put things in perspective, workers subjected to noise levels that average at least 85 dB for eight hours a day are required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to wear ear protection.
By the end of the year, Marathon Digital Holdings intends to switch 50% of the air-cooled containers at the Granbury plant to immersion cooling in response to the noise complaints. To lessen noise, this method entails immersing components in liquid.
Although there is a federal law governing noise, local governments frequently impose their own restrictions. If the noise level in Texas is more than 85 dB, it is deemed “unreasonable.” The Granbury issue serves as a stark reminder of the wider ramifications of converting power plants to Bitcoin mining facilities, emphasizing the importance of carefully weighing the effects such operations will have on the local people and environment.
