Rural Texans continue push to regulate Bitcoin mining over noise, quality of life concerns
Residents of Hood County’s rural areas are advocating for a public ballot to secure greater control over a Bitcoin mining facility they accuse of disturbing their daily lives with nonstop industrial noise, according to an Aug. 18 report by local media outlet KERA News.
The operation, managed by Florida-based Marathon Digital Holdings, has functioned for nearly three years close to Mitchell Bend, an unincorporated community.
Nearby homeowners argue the facility’s incessant mechanical drone has resulted in sleep deprivation, auditory health concerns, and diminished home prices. Several reports include claims of tinnitus and irreversible hearing impairment.
Conflict Over Petition
A campaign to establish Mitchell Bend as an official municipality, enabling local regulations for the mining site, was rejected last week by County Judge Ron Massingill.
He stated the initial petition failed to gather signatures from 50 eligible voters, as mandated by state law. A revised petition was later filed ahead of the Aug. 18 cutoff, aiming to qualify for inclusion on November’s election ballot.
Shannon Wolf, a Republican Party precinct chair, condemned county authorities for what she called inadequate communication regarding the first petition’s dismissal and the resubmission timeline.
Should the renewed effort falter, locals have pledged to escalate their fight through judicial channels, possibly reaching the state Supreme Court.
Legal Measures
Parallel to the incorporation campaign, multiple residents have participated in separate legal actions against Marathon’s activities in Texas.
Environmental organization Earthjustice has sought a court order citing purported public health and ecological risks, while affected individuals have enlisted a personal injury lawyer to address alleged health impacts and financial losses tied to property devaluation.
Cheryl Shadden, a vocal critic of the mine, explained her coalition evaluated strategies and determined legal challenges or municipal incorporation remain their sole viable paths to meaningful influence.
Representatives from Judge Massingill’s office and Marathon Digital declined to provide statements.
Incorporation success would empower Mitchell Bend to enact local regulations on industrial developments. For residents, this initiative reflects ongoing struggles in Texas towns where cryptocurrency mining operations have encroached on residential and agricultural zones.
Source: cryptonews.net
