Residents living in a small area of Hood County, Texas, have failed in their bid to become a new municipality in an attempt to regulate noise from a nearby Bitcoin mining facility.
According to a report from The Texas Tribune published on Wednesday, only 38% of 138 voters were in favor of the proposal to create “Mitchell Bend,” a proposed tiny municipality covering a two-square-mile community of approximately 600 people.
For around three years, locals have complained that MARA’s 60,000 Bitcoin miners have disturbed the community due to the loud noise of the machines, which play a role in securing Bitcoin’s $2 trillion network.
Residents have reported sleepless nights, headaches, and hearing problems, while others have left the town. MARA has attempted to address the issue by expanding a 24-foot wall to block out some noise and transitioning two-thirds of its cooling fans to a liquid cooling system.
However, residents say the noise is still prominent, prompting them to consider incorporating Mitchell Bend. This municipality would be a fraction of the nearly 70,000 people who live in Hood County.
MARA initially tried to block the vote
MARA initially filed a lawsuit to block the vote in late October, stating that the incorporation of Mitchell Bend as a city would harm its operations and potentially tax it out of business.
Although that request was rejected, a MARA spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the voting outcome.
“We’re pleased that Hood County voters saw through the sham incorporation effort and rejected it at the ballot box.”
Locals will keep fighting for peace
Hood resident Danny Lakey said the disappointing result won’t stop them from pursuing another route.
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“Although we took a loss here, we are going to move forward and we will continue to do what we can to not let industry take over Hood County.”
Residents in the area previously took action against MARA and its site manager, David Fischer, over noise-related violations; however, neither of those actions has been successful.
In Arkansas, the planning commission of Vilonia unanimously rejected a proposal to establish a crypto mining facility, following strong opposition from residents in April.
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