WOLF COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18) — Brenda Campbell's home of 40 years is tucked away in the rolling hills of Wolfe County, the quiet of which is interrupted by the constant noise of the cryptocurrency mine next door. she says.
The drone of fans installed to cool the facility's high-powered computers can be heard 24/7 at Campbell's home and several other homes in the surrounding rural area. .
When LEX 18 first inspected the facility in October, Wolfe County Judge Executive Raymond Banks said he was told LEX 18 would install barriers to keep out the noise.
Thursday we returned to the mine to see what had changed.
According to Campbell, not much has changed.
“That's just the surface,” Campbell said. “That's really not helpful.”
No new walls were constructed, but fabric was added to a portion of the existing chain-link fence on one side of the property. A representative from Artemis Powertech, which operates the facility, said it was a “soundproof blanket that blocks out construction site noise.”
The company installed the blankets “despite there being no legal requirement” to reduce noise levels, and did so following a noise assessment and recommendation from a third-party expert.
“We have not received any further complaints since installation and consider this issue resolved,” the company said in a statement. “Artemis Power Tech is proud to be a part of the Wolfe County community and is willing to take reasonable steps through open communication to ensure we are a trusted partner here for the long term.” I will teach you.”
The company says it has not received any complaints, but at least one neighbor has complained to local leaders.
“I would like her to come and shut down the facility or actually do something to stop the noise,” Campbell said of the company representative.
Campbell would like to see the county enact a noise ordinance to address the problem, but that's not the solution Banks is considering.
“I'm against zoning,” Banks said. “I'm against zoning.”
Banks acknowledged he doesn't want to live next to a noisy cryptocurrency mine, but said ordinances and zoning could drive away potential business in an already struggling county. .
The banks also said there was a “one in a million” chance of a new cryptocurrency mine in the county.
A lack of regulation and tracking makes it difficult to say where crypto mines already exist in the state and where they may pop up next.
Campbell said he has tried calling state lawmakers to get answers, but so far has been unsuccessful.
“There's no one regulating it, there's no one paying attention,” Campbell said. “When you talk to state legislators and state senators, they basically ignore you.”
