David Fischer, the plant manager of a Marathon Digital mining site near Granbury, Texas, has been acquitted of 12 noise violation charges by a Texas jury. The charges were brought against him by local residents who claimed that the noise generated by the cooling systems used in Bitcoin mining operations was causing health issues.
Bitcoin mining, which involves solving cryptographic puzzles to secure the blockchain, requires powerful cooling systems due to the significant heat generated. Some Granbury residents linked the loud, low-frequency hum of the cooling fans to various health problems. The allegations were based on noise levels exceeding 85 decibels, a threshold known to be harmful with prolonged exposure, according to the United States National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
The verdict, delivered by a six-person jury on July 10, found Fischer not guilty of operating the Granbury site at noise levels that could potentially cause hearing loss.
The decision followed a detailed report by TIME on July 8, which documented the complaints of over 40 residents who attributed adverse medical conditions such as heart issues, chest pain, migraines, nausea, and tinnitus to the noise generated by Marathon’s mining operations. Hood County Constable John Shirley reportedly recorded instances where the noise levels exceeded the safe limit.
It is important to note that the noise violation charges were directed at Fischer rather than Marathon Digital itself. Fischer’s legal team argued that he was not the appropriate individual to be charged, suggesting that any violations should be attributed to the company. They also claimed that Constable Shirley’s noise readings were exaggerated and that the site’s operations complied with legal industrial limits.
Marathon Digital plans to alleviate the noise issue by replacing air-cooled containers with immersion cooling systems by the end of the year. This new method involves submerging mining rigs in a fluid to manage heat, potentially reducing the noise levels that have been a source of concern for local residents.
In related industry developments, Bitdeer, a bitcoin mining firm founded in 2020 by Chinese billionaire Jihan Wu, has made a significant strategic move by entering into a 30-year leasing deal with the Monroe County Port Authority. This agreement secures up to 570 MW of additional power capacity at the Hannibal Industrial Park in Clarington, Ohio, a site selected to bolster Bitdeer’s expansion in Bitcoin mining, high-performance computing (HPC), and artificial intelligence (AI).
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