Residents of Hood County, Texas, have faced a setback in their efforts to establish a new municipality aimed at regulating noise from a nearby Bitcoin mining operation. According to the authors of the publication, it is concerning that the proposal to create Mitchell Bend, a small community of around 600 people, was rejected by voters, highlighting ongoing tensions between local residents and the mining facility.
Vote on Incorporation of Mitchell Bend
In a recent vote, only 38 out of 138 residents supported the incorporation of Mitchell Bend, which would cover a two-square-mile area.
Concerns Over Bitcoin Mining Noise
For the past three years, locals have voiced concerns over the disruptive noise generated by MARA's Bitcoin mining operations, which involve approximately 60,000 machines. Complaints have included:
- sleepless nights
- headaches
- even residents leaving the area due to the incessant noise
MARA's Efforts to Mitigate Noise
MARA has made efforts to mitigate the noise by expanding a 24-foot wall and transitioning to a liquid cooling system for two-thirds of its cooling fans. Despite these measures, residents claim that the noise remains a significant issue, prompting them to seek municipal incorporation as a potential solution. The proposed municipality would represent a small fraction of Hood County's nearly 70,000 residents.
Legal Action and Community Response
MARA initially sought to block the vote through legal action, arguing that the incorporation would jeopardize its operations and impose excessive taxes. Although the lawsuit was dismissed, a spokesperson for MARA expressed relief at the voting outcome, suggesting that the community recognized the incorporation effort as misguided. Nevertheless, local residents, including Danny Lakey, remain determined to pursue alternative avenues for relief from the noise, indicating that their fight for peace is far from over.
Residents near Mitchell Bend Highway have previously raised concerns about noise pollution from MARA Holdings' mining activities, highlighting ongoing issues that were also reflected in the recent efforts for municipal incorporation in Hood County. For more details, see further information.
