Residents of Granbury, Texas, have filed a lawsuit against Marathon Digital, accusing the Bitcoin mining company of causing excessive noise at its local facility. The legal action, submitted to a Hood County court on October 4, 2024, involves over two dozen residents claiming that the constant noise from Marathon’s Bitcoin mining site has led to significant disruptions in their daily lives.
Physical and Psychological Impact on Granbury Residents
The lawsuit alleges that the persistent noise from the mining facility has created a “nuisance”, with many residents suffering from various physical and psychological effects. These include headaches, fatigue, hearing loss, migraines, and tinnitus. Additionally, individuals with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure claim their symptoms have worsened due to the constant disturbance.
The noise is so pervasive, the residents argue, that they can hear and feel vibrations inside their homes, disrupting daily routines and diminishing their overall quality of life. Alongside these complaints, the lawsuit also mentions the rising electricity bills and the decline in property values caused by the facility’s high energy consumption.
Residents Demand Action
Represented by senior attorney Rodrigo Cantú from the environmental law firm Earthjustice, the plaintiffs are pushing for a court order that would force Marathon Digital to address the noise issue. Cantú emphasized on October 7 that his clients are seeking “immediate action to effectively mitigate the noise pollution or shut down operations altogether.”
In addition to seeking compensation for damages and legal costs, the residents are demanding a permanent injunction to prevent the facility from continuing its disruptive noise levels.
A History of Noise Complaints
The Granbury Bitcoin mine was originally built in April 2022 by Compute North Holdings but has since changed hands multiple times. Marathon Digital took over the lease in January 2023, after the site was managed by rival mining firm Hut 8 Corp until April 30, 2023. Residents noted that the noise became noticeable around the spring of 2023, suggesting a correlation with the management shift.
As of July 2024, Marathon Digital’s earnings report indicated it operates 250,000 Bitcoin mining rigs, contributing a total hashrate of 4.3 ExaHashs per second (EH/s). However, the exact number of rigs operating at the Granbury facility has not been disclosed.
This legal action is reminiscent of a 2022 case in Hadsel, Norway, where residents successfully campaigned to shut down a local Bitcoin mine due to noise complaints. In another instance, a Texas jury in July 2024 acquitted David Fischer, Marathon Digital’s site manager, of 12 noise violations related to its mining operations near Granbury, Texas.
As the lawsuit progresses, the residents of Granbury hope to either see Marathon Digital mitigate the noise pollution or face a complete shutdown of the facility.
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