Man tied to eastern UP bitcoin mine defends data centers at Florida campaign event
Michael Carbonara, linked to a bitcoin mine in Dafter Township, Michigan, defended data centers during his Florida congressional campaign. The mine faces an ongoing lawsuit from Lake Superior Academy due to excessive noise, with operators Odessa Partners LLC and AlphaWatt countersuing after a temporary shutdown. Carbonara also commented on a data center proposal in Florida that was put on pause.
Michael Carbonara, whose name is associated with a controversial bitcoin mining operation in Dafter Township, Michigan, recently defended data centers while campaigning for a Florida Congressional seat. Carbonara is linked to Odessa Partners LLC, the land owner, and AlphaWatt, the mine operator, both of whom are facing an ongoing lawsuit from Lake Superior Academy. The K-12 school, located next to the mine, alleges that noise levels of 70-75 decibels from the operation are disrupting students' learning and forced a pause on their expansion plans.
The legal dispute in Chippewa County's 50th Circuit Court intensified after a judge issued a temporary restraining order, leading to the mine's shutdown. AlphaWatt and Odessa Partners LLC have since filed a countersuit, claiming $183,889.39 in damages due to the shutdown. They also stated efforts to mitigate noise, including stacking hay bales, reduced levels to about 43 decibels. Local community members, including the EUP Solidarity chapter, have expressed concerns about the mine's noise since 2025.
During a campaign forum in south Florida, Carbonara spoke against a local data center proposal, "Project Tango" in Palm Beach, which was paused by the county commission due to noise, safety, and environmental concerns. He highlighted his experience building a bitcoin mine, differentiating it from AI data centers, and claimed such operations can reduce energy costs for communities, referencing Cloverland Electric, the nonprofit utility cooperative powering the Dafter mine. Cloverland Electric previously stated that high-volume users help stabilize rates by offsetting declining sales, though they are not involved in the mine's operations. The lawsuit between Lake Superior Academy and the mine owners is set for another hearing on August 17th.