As frustration over noise from a Bitcoin mining facility grows, Hood County residents voiced their concerns during a commissioner's court meeting Tuesday.
HOOD COUNTY, Texas As frustration grows for neighbors in Hood County dealing with noise from a nearby Bitcoin mining facility, they voiced their concerns to county leaders.
During a commissioners court meeting Tuesday, at least 10 people urged county leaders to do something about the constant noise they say permeates their homes.
Its like a freight train thats going through your yard, one neighbor, Robert Killian said.
Its coming from the Bitcoin facilitys site, where loud fans cool computers that run 24/7 to capture cryptocurrency.
This isnt just a little street noise, this is horrendous, neighbor Cindy Highsmith said.
Bruce Chase, who resides in a home near the site, said his family has owned the property for four generations.
I could hear it inside my house. This is family land, but it sure is hard to live here, Chase said. Keep us in mind, the little guys we would appreciate that.
Nannette Samuelson, Hood Count Commissioner for Precinct 2, where the facility is located, added the issue to Tuesdays agenda in hopes that other commissioners will hear residents concerns.
When my term in office started, I began receiving complaints about the noise, Samuelson said. This constant noise is impacting their quality of life, health, and property values.
During the hearing, one resident said he lives six miles away from the data center and can hear the loud hum day, evening, and night inside of his home.
Residents, many of them retirees, have complained of migraines, ears ringing, vertigo, and heart problems, which they say began when the Bitcoin mining started.
As they urged county leaders to act, they hit a roadblock.
During the meeting, Hood County Judge Ron Massingill said his hands are tied due to state laws limiting a countys power over unincorporated areas.
We are powerless to do anything until the legislature gives us that power. I sympathize with you people, I really do, Massingil said. All Texas counties remain unable to regulate noise. That, unfortunately, is the law right now.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality told WFAA it does not have any rules regarding noise.
WFAA reached out to Hood County Environmental Health director Jeannie Stacks, who said the department doesn't have the authority granted by the state or county to issue a public health emergency, especially involving noise, which counties aren't authorized to regulate.
According to Hood County Attorney Matthew Mills, disorderly conduct citations have been filed, however, the countys options are limited without legislative change.
They [the state] could add noise pollution under the health and safety code, then I can pursue an injunction but right now, thats not one of the provisions under the health and safety code, Mills told WFAA. Another thing would be to make disorderly conduct enhanceable.
Some residents argued noise citations dont go far enough.
Commissioner Samuelson mentioned a November 2023 meeting in which the previous commissioners court intended to modify the current tax abatement for Wolf Hollow, the power plant owner that leases property to the Bitcoin mine company, Marathon Digital Holdings.
Samuelson indicated that the court dropped the ball on abatement issues and didnt adjust the abatement when it became rental property for Wolf Hollow. Additionally, Samuelson said the court got nothing in writing about shutting the Bitcoin center down in case of power outages.
Marathon Digital Holdings told WFAA it plans to conduct a sound study and touted its job creation and $2 million generated in annual tax contributions. Company leaders were invited to Tuesdays public hearing, but didnt attend.
But until something truly changes, neighbors said the loud hum travels into their homes and has recently become louder.
It was very loud last night we didnt sleep much last night, one resident, Wes Wall, said. It affects us every day.
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