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Neighbors unhappy about crypto mining operation in Glencoe, Minn | Star Tribune12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.startribune.com%2Fneighbors-unhappy-about-crypto-mining-operation-in-glencoe-minn%2F600212074%2F
222 sats \ 5 comments \ @MinnFinTech 4 Oct 2022 bitcoin
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115 sats \ 0 replies \ @BTCMiner 4 Oct 2022
Gould and Olson really shouldn't have any expectation of quiet solitude, Nelson said, given that the land across the street from their home has been zoned for industrial use for decades.
"Honestly, in my opinion, they're making noise because they think we make a lot of money and they think they'll get something out of it by fighting us," he said.
Umm ya. Pro tip: Have a professional PR person review your responses before submitting them to the media.
This may be something that works itself out over time. Water cooling may be more efficient and of course, can be much quieter.
Water Cooling vs. Immersion Cooling for Bitcoin Mining #77137 https://jetcool.com/post/five-reasons-water-cooling-is-better-than-immersion-cooling/
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26 sats \ 0 replies \ @0322ee777777 4 Oct 2022
There is one good point in the article from the local power guy who is concerned about the residents with large increases and decreases in the industry. They then use the decrease to mention compute north, which was a light jab, but the point still stands. A miner closing down has an equal to or more effect on the local grid then they did plugging up in the first place.
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25 sats \ 0 replies \ @Brunswick 4 Oct 2022
This reminds me of a red-green episode.
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25 sats \ 0 replies \ @based 4 Oct 2022
Can't say anything about this instance without being there yourself, but noise pollution is a real problem. The cited decibel numbers are useless too since it doesn't specify at which distance. Could be a meter from the facility or it could be at the house. It's not just about decibels though, different noises are perceived differently and that's really what matters.
"That was an expensive fence," Nelson said, costing tens of thousands of dollars. "We won't be doing any more of that fence. It would be cheaper to buy their house."
Frankly, that's not a bad idea, do that instead if it's an option. If the noise really is bad, quite deviously really, the value of the house has been reduced. So it's cheaper now. If the mining goes belly up later thus stopping the noise, you can at least sell the house at a higher price.
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1 sat \ 0 replies \ @MinnFinTech OP 4 Oct 2022
The Glencoe crypto operation is owned by Bit49, a Colorado-based company. Cody Nelson, Bit49's chief operating officer, said the company has gone to great lengths to respond to the couple's concerns.
"We've done everything we can," he said. "We consult professionals; they say, 'Do this,' and we do it."
Nelson said the company has taken a number of steps to mitigate the noise from its operation, which opened last winter. They're operating fans at lower RPM and have installed sensors that reduce the fan speed in cooler weather when the computers run less hot. Exhaust vents now have hoods and baffles that help diffuse the sound, and the company added an evaporative cooling system to further reduce the need for fan cooling.
Just last week, the company installed a polymer soundproofing blanket along the fence, which Nelson said could significantly reduce noise.
"That was an expensive fence," Nelson said, costing tens of thousands of dollars. "We won't be doing any more of that fence. It would be cheaper to buy their house."
When Bit49's crypto operation first opened, it was producing sound levels of 80 to 85 decibels, which is about the same as a gasoline-powered lawnmower or leaf blower running 24 hours a day. Nelson said the noise is now in the 70- to 75-decibel range, equivalent to a washing machine or dishwasher. The soundproofing blanket could reduce that by 20 decibels or more, he said, and the company plans to retest the noise level now that the soundproofing is installed.
Gould and Olson really shouldn't have any expectation of quiet solitude, Nelson said, given that the land across the street from their home has been zoned for industrial use for decades.
"Honestly, in my opinion, they're making noise because they think we make a lot of money and they think they'll get something out of it by fighting us," he said.
"We're worried about our health. We're worried about our sanity," Gould said. "We feel greatly oppressed."
Said Olson: "I'm just crossing my fingers that this one will go under."
The link for this post is using the 12ft.io proxy for the article on the Star Tribune's website. The 12ft.io proxy has no paywall, no subscription requirement, and can be easier to read. The original article, on the Star Tribune's website is:
Neighbors unhappy about crypto mining operation in Glencoe, Minn. https://www.startribune.com/neighbors-unhappy-about-crypto-mining-operation-in-glencoe-minn/600212074
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