Bitcoin mining could begin in Mountain City as Cleanspark has received preliminary approval from local planners, which is subject to final land assessments and energy agreements.
Cleanspark's Bitcoin Mining Project Moves Forward in Mountain City
The Mountain City Planning Board has given preliminary approval to a Bitcoin mining data center proposed by Cleanspark (Nasdaq: CLSK), a Nevada-based cryptocurrency mining company. However, full approval is still contingent on the completion of a detailed site plan and final agreements with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
Cleanspark COO Scott Garrison said that if approved, the facility, planned for a 50.48-acre farmland at 178 Rainbow Road, could be operational within two months, The Tomahawk reported. The Tomahawk's Thomas Sherrill noted that the $367,400 property, owned by It's His LLC and Steve Brown of North Carolina, will house application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) hardware for bitcoin mining, designed to minimize noise and eliminate the use of air cooling.
Garrison emphasized that the ASIC units will maintain noise levels comparable to the traffic on nearby US 421, which is a response to previously raised community concerns. Cleanspark currently operates 31 similar facilities across the United States, exclusively mining BTC. Sherrill’s report also highlighted that the project will initially create 12 jobs, described as “high-end” opportunities that do not require a college degree, with the prospect of additional hiring if an on-site repair facility is established.
Garrison also cited the company's broader economic revitalization efforts, including philanthropic efforts and job creation, noting Sandersville, Georgia, where he said workers have “gone from living in cars to buying homes.” Rodney Metcalfe, Mountain Electric's CEO, expressed support for the project, suggesting its significant energy needs could help offset “dramatic” rate increases.
Mayor Jerry Jordan described the proposal as “promising,” though Sherrill’s report noted his frustration with delays in finalizing the site plan. Tomahawk also reported that Cleanspark is awaiting a TVA decision on the energy plan, which is expected by mid-May. The planning board is scheduled to review the proposal again on May 22, according to the article. Cleanspark is the fourth-largest public bitcoin miner by market cap.
Source: cryptonews.net
