Telford residents hope commission rejects Bitcoin settlement | WJHL

TELFORD, Tenn. (WJHL) – Residents in neighborhoods near the Washington County Industrial Park hope the county continues its lawsuit against the company behind a local bitcoin mining operation.

Washington County filed a lawsuit against Red Dog Technologies in November 2021 over a Limestone bitcoin mine. The lawsuit claims that the mine operates in violation of the country’s zoning.

Before the trial, neighbors in Limestone complained about the noise from the mine’s computers and fans.

Now, a settlement has been presented to the Washington County Commission that, if approved, will move Bitcoin mining operations to the Telford industrial park.

Shane Keene has lived less than a mile away from the industrial park for years.

Noise from nearby factories hasn’t been a problem for him, but he said a Bitcoin mine could change that and hurt property values.

“I have a very relaxing backyard. I hear no adjacent noise. It’s like I don’t even know [the industrial park] is there,” Keene said. “I’m also concerned about property values. What is this going to do to the property values ​​of the local region here?”

If the settlement is approved, Red Dog will have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and fees for violating the zoning regulations and selling the land in the industrial park.

Red Dog also had to pay for sound monitoring equipment at the new location. If the noise level exceeds 60 decibels for more than 12 hours, the company will be subject to fees and even a temporary closure of the facility.

But Keene said that’s not enough to change his mind that the mine doesn’t belong anywhere in the county.

“I just don’t see the benefit to the community, especially to the taxpayers,” Keene said. “The fact that there has to be so much policing of something tells you that the proximity and location of these houses, you’re going to be affected.”

Approving the settlement would put the mine in Telford, but rejecting it keeps the lawsuit and the Limestone operation going.

Randy Gilliam, who has been the unofficial leader of opposition to the Telford move, said it’s not a question of Telford wanting the mine to stay in Limestone or vice versa.

“We don’t want it or need it in Limestone. We don’t want it or need it in Telford,” Gilliam said.

Gilliam said he expects there will be a standing ovation at commission meetings regarding the settlement vote.

Gilliam said he would ask the commissioners two questions before the vote.

“One, is this something we as a county need because it gives us jobs or it’s good for our economy?” Gilliam said. “The other thing I want to ask them is, do you want it in your district?”

The commission will first deal with the settlement at a trade, industry and agriculture committee meeting on 3 November.

It would then go to a full commission vote on Nov. 27.