Granbury Residents Sue Bitcoin Mining Company

GRANBURY, Texas – The tranquil environment outside Granbury has been disturbed by the incessant noise from a Bitcoin mining facility. Residents first noticed this unwelcome disruption last fall, which coincided with the mining operations.

Among those affected are 55-year-old Daniel Lakey and his wife, who dream of retiring in this peaceful area.

“Here, we enjoy watching the sunset and savoring our time outside,” shared Lakey.

Their spacious eight-acre property, nestled in rural Hood County near Granbury, once offered serene cattle-dotted views. However, the noise from their industrial neighbor has tainted this idyllic scene.

“At 10 p.m., I sat next to my truck, and all I could hear was the pervasive noise from the Bitcoin mine,” Lakey explained.

Over the past year, Lakey has amassed numerous audio recordings on his phone, documenting the noise emanating from the nearby Marathon Digital Holdings facility. Many recordings were captured from his home, located a quarter-mile away.

Lakey is just one of several plaintiffs suing Marathon Digital, who convened with their legal team in a virtual news conference last week.

“At the center of this lawsuit is the extensive noise from Marathon’s cooling system, which relies on large industrial fans,” said Rebecca Ramirez, an Associate Attorney from EarthJustice’s Gulf Regional Office.

Residents attribute various health issues, including noise pollution peaking at 85 decibels, to the mining operations.

“I experience disorientation similar to motion sickness during the day, and we are deprived of sleep at night,” noted Cheryl Shadden, a co-plaintiff. “The noise is so overwhelming that it permeates our walls and windows.”

Her property adjoins the facility, and signs expressing her displeasure with Bitcoin mining are visible on her land.

State regulations offer no remedy, as Texas law does not grant counties or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality the authority to manage noise pollution.

Marathon Digital stands by its position, refuting any harmful allegations asserted by the plaintiffs.

In a statement to FOX 4 News, the company asserts that its data center is law-abiding and sound levels are within legal thresholds.

The company also denies any medical or other connections to the broad claims being made while emphasizing its commitment to neighborliness.

Proactive steps to reduce noise are underway at Marathon, including constructing a sound wall with acoustic dampening material. They have deactivated several air-cooled containers and aim to convert 50% of the site to quieter liquid immersion cooling by year-end.

“Living next door under these conditions is unacceptable,” Lakey stated emphatically. When queried about a solution, he suggested, “Simply turn it off!”

The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction compelling the cessation of disruptive noise and vibrations from the crypto mining operations.

Currently, the hearing is pending scheduling.

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