Tyler residents gather to learn about proposed data center
Vulcan Core plans to build a 12,500 MW Bitcoin mining facility near Downtown Tyler, Texas, with Barrio as the final operator. Local residents expressed concerns about water usage and noise pollution, while developers assured them of minimal impact and significant tax revenue. The project is scheduled for a special use permit review by Tyler Planning and Zoning on July 7.
Residents of Tyler, Texas, gathered to discuss a proposed 12,500 MW Bitcoin mining facility planned by developer Vulcan Core, with Barrio as the prospective operator, near Downtown Tyler. Concerns were raised by residents, including Kimberly Williams, about the project's impact on water usage and noise levels in North Tyler. Project representatives, including Mark Bunstev from Vulcan and local coordinator Mitch Brown, addressed these concerns, stating the facility would use a self-contained closed-loop cooling system that avoids city water and would operate below the neighborhood's normal noise levels.
Brown clarified that the site was chosen due to its proximity to an ONCOR substation and emphasized that Vulcan Core would pay for its own connection line, preventing costs from being passed to other utility customers. He also noted that the company is not seeking tax abatements, estimating around $550,000 in electricity use taxes alone, plus property taxes, for state, city, and county coffers. Despite these explanations, many residents remained with unanswered questions regarding the project's necessity and location. The proposed facility is slated for review by Tyler Planning and Zoning for a special use permit on July 7.