Residents of Granbury, Texas, have initiated legal proceedings against Marathon Digital, alleging that the Bitcoin mining company is responsible for the production of excessive pollution at its local facility.
On October 4, over two dozen residents filed a legal action to a Hood County court, stating that the sound levels from the site have caused significant disturbances and discomfort.
Marathon’s Bitcoin mining facility has generated an ongoing “nuisance” that has resulted in significant distress for the residents of the the area, as per the complaint.
The lawsuit emphasizes that the continuous loudness and vibrations from the mining operation have caused a variety of physical and psychological effects, such as headaches, fatigue, hearing loss, migraines, and tinnitus, for certain residents.
Additionally, the residents contend that the continuous disturbance has exacerbated pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure.
The legal document underscores the extent to which the noise pollution is so widespread that residents can hear and feel the vibrations inside their homes, which disrupts their daily lives and enjoyment of their properties.
Additionally, the residents assert that the operation’s substantial energy consumption has resulted in a decrease in property values and an increase in electricity expenses, in addition to the pollution issues.
Rodrigo Cantú, a senior attorney at the environmental law firm Earthjustice, is representing the plaintiffs in their pursuit of a court order that would compel Marathon Digital to either resolve the pollution issue or permanently close the facility.
On October 7, Cantú declared that his customers require “immediate action to effectively mitigate their noise pollution or cease operations altogether.”
Marathon Digital has not yet responded to enquiries regarding the lawsuit. In the interim, the residents are advocating for a permanent injunction to prevent the facility from repeating its “unreasonable loudness” and are also seeking compensation for legal expenses and damages.
Originally constructed by Compute North Holdings in April 2022, the Granbury Bitcoin mine has undergone numerous ownership changes.
Marathon Digital assumed responsibility for the lease in January 2023, following the site’s management by Hut 8 Corp, a competitor, until April 30.
Around the spring of 2023, residents reported that the commotion became more apparent, which implies a correlation with the change in management.
Marathon Digital’s earnings report for July indicated that it maintains 250,000 Bitcoin mining machines, with the Granbury site contributing a hashrate of 4.3 ExaHashes per second (EH/s).
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