Residents raise concerns over new Gibson County data center, local leaders say impact will be minimal
Residents in Gibson County, Tennessee, are expressing concerns about a new data center's electricity and water usage, as well as potential noise and infrastructure costs. Local leaders and Humboldt Utilities, however, state that the facility will have a minimal impact on resources and is expected to generate significant annual electric revenue. The Humboldt Board of Aldermen is scheduled to discuss the project at an upcoming meeting.
Residents of Humboldt, Gibson County, Tennessee, have voiced concerns regarding a new data center under construction, citing a lack of information and potential strains on electricity and water resources, along with noise and infrastructure costs. A group gathered at Bailey Park to express their apprehension about the facility. Carl Holley, a Humboldt resident, noted that many people were unaware of the project until its construction.
Alex Smith, President and CEO of Humboldt Utilities, clarified that the facility is a cryptocurrency mining operation primarily using air-cooled systems, which use minimal water, estimated at 2 million gallons annually for misting fans. Smith emphasized that the project owners are fully covering infrastructure costs, having already invested $180,000. He added that the data center is anticipated to generate approximately $8.5 million in annual electric revenue, which will help maintain lower residential and commercial utility rates.
Local leaders also stated the facility, located on about two acres near Humboldt city limits, is not expected to cause power fluctuations or transformer instability and could be operational by August. The Humboldt Board of Aldermen is scheduled to discuss the data center during their upcoming Monday night meeting.