Rural Hood County residents are seeking a public vote to gain more control over a Bitcoin mining site they say disrupts their way of life with constant industrial noise, local media outlet KERA News reported on Aug. 18.
The mine, operated by Florida-based Marathon Digital Holdings, has been operating for about three years near the unincorporated territory of Mitchell Bend.
Neighbors report that the mine’s constant roar has caused sleep disturbances, hearing problems and lower property values. Some say they now suffer from tinnitus and permanent hearing loss.
Last week, District Judge Ron Massingill rejected a request to incorporate Mitchell Bend as a city, which would have given local authorities the power to regulate the mine.
He noted that the petition did not meet the state’s requirement of 50 registered voters. As a result, residents filed a second petition before the Aug. 18 deadline, hoping to get it on the November ballot.
Shannon Wolf, the precinct chairwoman for the local Republican Party, criticized the lack of information from county officials about the initial rejection of the petition and the timeline for resubmission.
Local residents say that if the second attempt fails, they are prepared to defend their interests in court, possibly even in the state’s highest court.
In addition to the efforts to register the company, some residents have joined other lawsuits against Marathon over its operations in the state.
Climate advocacy group Earthjustice has filed a lawsuit to injunction the operation over alleged health and environmental damage, while local residents have hired a personal injury lawyer to file claims over medical issues and loss of property value.
Cheryl Shadden, a neighbor who has been vocal in her opposition to the mine, said her group had considered all options and concluded that only lawsuits or a corporation would provide them with real leverage.
Representatives for Massingill’s office and Marathon Digital did not respond to requests for comment on the current situation.
If successfully registered, Mitchell Bend will be able to set its own rules to regulate industrial projects. For locals, it will be the latest step in a larger fight in Texas communities where cryptocurrency mining has become an integral part of households and farmland.
Source: cryptonews.net
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *