Inside a Bitcoin Mine: Aurum swings open the doors Tuesday | The Hawk Eye - Burlington, Iowa
Des Moines County has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development while it studies potential impacts and considers new ordinances. Aurum Capital Ventures, which operates a Bitcoin mine in Middletown and plans an AI data center, addressed the county board to discuss electricity and water usage, offering insights and a tour of its facility.
Charlie White, a land agent with Aurum Capital Ventures, engaged with the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors during a work session to address concerns and clarify misconceptions surrounding Bitcoin mines and potential AI data centers in the area. White provided details on the electricity and water usage of Aurum's existing Bitcoin mine near Middletown, which began production in September 2025 (sic), noting its dry cooling system only uses water when the heat index exceeds 100 degrees, resulting in an estimated 350,000 gallons per year. He emphasized that locations are selected based on available excess electricity on the grid, with the company paying $2.6 million for power annually.
Des Moines County has enacted a one-year moratorium on data center development to allow the board time to study the potential impacts on communities, including effects on utility availability and pricing. Supervisors are considering an ordinance to regulate data center locations and minimize these impacts. White advocated for Aurum Capital Ventures' involvement in crafting any new regulations, offering the company's expertise to find solutions to identified issues.
Following the work session, White invited attendees, including local media and board members, to tour the Bitcoin mine facility. The county board has not set a timeline for when or if it will finalize an ordinance governing data centers and Bitcoin mines, with their next public meeting scheduled for August 11.