A group of more than two dozen residents of Granbury, Texas, has bitcoin-mine-over-health-threatening-noise-pollution” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>filed a lawsuit against Marathon Digital Holdings, a major crypto mining company, citing excessive noise and vibration from its local bitcoin mining facility.
According to residents, the crypto mining site, located near their homes, has caused significant disruption to their daily lives, creating a nuisance that has led to serious health impacts such as fatigue, hearing loss and headaches.
Details about the lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed in Hood County Court, claims that persistent noise from the mining facility has interfered with residents' ability to enjoy their homes, with constant vibrations and roars from the mining machines' cooling fans. of cryptocurrencies running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Earthjustice lead attorney Rodrigo Cantú emphasized that noise pollution from the proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining process harms the physical and mental health of residents and is also harmful to the surrounding environment.
In particular, cryptocurrency mining, particularly bitcoin, involves an energy-intensive process known as proof of work, in which tens of thousands of computers operate continuously to solve complex algorithms.
In the case of Marathon Digital, noise from the cooling fans that maintain optimal temperatures for mining equipment has become a major issue for the local community.
Marathon's crypto mining operations are based at the Wolf Hollow Gas Plant, a 1,115 megawatt facility near Granbury. In response to the lawsuit, Granbury resident Cheryl Shadden shared her experience and explained that 24/7 mining activities have also increased local electricity. Shadden noted:
In such a short time, bitcoin mining has completely altered our community, for the worse. Mining 24 hours a day is not only increasing our electricity bills, it is also costing us our health.
Calls for immediate action and long-term solutions
The lawsuit highlights the urgent need for solutions as residents seek measures to close mining facilities or dramatically reduce noise pollution. Shadden, for example, stated:
We feel trapped. Day and night we are subjected to incessant noise that damages us physically. We are not asking for much, just that Marathon assume its responsibility and restore our peace and well-being.
The lawsuit, led by Earthjustice on behalf of Citizens Concerned About Wolf Hollow, demands that Marathon Digital mitigate noise pollution or shut down its operations entirely.
Rodrigo Cantú, who is also part of Earthjustice's legal team, said:
Persistent exposure to this noise is harmful to human health, animals and the environment. Residents' homes are no longer the refuge they should be. Marathon must take immediate steps to effectively mitigate its noise pollution or close its operations entirely.
Additionally, the plaintiffs are seeking a permanent injunction against the mining facility to prevent further noise nuisance and compensation for damages, including higher electricity bills and lower property values.
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