The whine of a crypto mine is keeping a North Carolina community awake

[thewayne]

Crypto mines consist of literally hundreds of PC servers. They need two things, lots of electricity to power them and lots of fan power to keep them cool.

And fans, especially LOTS of fans, generate a lot of noise!

China outlawed cryptomining because of the energy consumption. North Carolina, and many Southern states, have inexpensive power and loose regulations. And an increasing number of cryptomining operators. Residents complain of an almost constant 50+ decibel whine/hum from the mines that can go over 70 dB at times. And have taken to their local governments to issue noise abatement rules and fines and it's members of both political parties that are objecting.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/19/us/north-carolina-crypto-mine-noise-weir-wxc/index.html

Comments

[dewline]

It might not be so bad, were those servers being put to more honourable usages. SETI research, a permanent vaccine for any number of diseases, cancer cures, and so on...but crypto mines? AUGH!

(And then, there's Canada's right-wingers, Poilievre, Danielle Smith, et al., who'd like us to take up that "cause".)

At least both sides of the aisle are taking the hint from the public here!

[disneydream06]

Cheap power?
Hugs, Jon

[kaishin108]

How awful!
I worry about that happening here near Boise as our electricity is so cheap. I have heard there are data farms, or something.

[silveradept]

That is the kind of nuisance neighbor that I wouldn't be surprised if they find themselves routinely the targets of sabotage or other malice intended to shut down their operations or force them to move somewhere else.

[kaishin108]

I hope they can get crypto mining banned! That is just awful :(