Crossville considers moratorium on data centers after Bitcoin mining facility draws noise complaints
Residents in Crossville, Tennessee, are complaining about excessive noise from a Bitcoin mining data center in Cumberland County. The Crossville Mayor acknowledges the complaints but states the noise levels are currently within city code. The city council is considering a two-year moratorium on future data center development due to noise and water usage concerns.
Residents of Crossville, Tennessee, and neighboring businesses are experiencing significant noise issues from an existing Bitcoin mining data center located in Cumberland County. The facility, which processes cryptocurrency transactions, generates noise levels around 82 decibels, below the city's 90-decibel limit, making its operations currently legal.
Crossville Mayor Crawford acknowledged receiving complaints about the noise, confirming its loudness. One neighboring business owner, identified as Travis 3, reported that the noise was so severe last year they couldn't even open their doors for fresh air and found it difficult to communicate. Travis 3 has requested the data center erect a wall to mitigate noise and heat, but this has not yet been done.
In response to these ongoing noise issues and concerns about water consumption—as the region faces water scarcity—the Crossville city council is considering a two-year moratorium on the construction of future data centers. The Mayor indicated that this proposal would be discussed at their upcoming council meeting, along with potential zoning code changes and safeguards related to data centers.