CROSSVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A bitcoin mining data center in Crossville is generating noise complaints from neighboring businesses, and city officials say they are considering a two-year moratorium on future data centers while they work to establish additional regulations.
East Tennessee has data centers across the region, including three in Knoxville, 10 others throughout East Tennessee, and the bitcoin mining facility in Crossville, which is used for cryptocurrency transactions.
Travis Threet, manager of Crossville Metal Fabricators, said the data center next door creates ongoing problems for his staff.
“The noise never stops unless they break down or they have to change out computer hard drives or something,” Threet said.
Threet said the noise is not the only issue his employees face.
“There were times last year we couldn’t even open our doors to get fresh air in cause it was producing so much heat,” Threet said.
Threet said he has asked to have a wall constructed between the two buildings to help reduce the noise and heat, but has not been able to find anyone to complete the work.
Crossville Mayor RJ Crawford said the city is aware of the complaints but that the facility is operating within city code.
“We went out there and it’s below the decibel level which is allowed in the city,” Crawford said.
Crawford said city code prohibits sound from reaching 90 decibels. The bitcoin mining center measures approximately 82 decibels.
Crawford said residents have also raised concerns about the potential impact of future data centers on the city’s water supply.
“They were worried about water because we do have a water issue up here and so we don’t want something up here that’s going to suck us dry,” Crawford said.
The city is considering a two-year moratorium on new data centers in Crossville while officials develop additional rules governing such facilities. Crawford said the moratorium will be discussed at an upcoming meeting.
Threet said he sees little recourse in the meantime.
“Ain’t much I can do about it. Just live with it,” Threet said.
Mayor Crawford added data centers are necessary to help with technology everywhere. He feels it’s best to put in safeguards before any more come to Crossville.
“We have to make sure we have common sense goals and common sense regulation in place because the last thing we want to do is put something in that banks or the hospital here in town can no longer operate their facility because the are now classified as a data center,” Mayor Crawford said.
The mayor added it’ll be up for discussion at a city meeting next week.
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