Key Takeaways
- Revolve Labs withdrew plans for a Bitcoin mining facility in Windom, Minnesota.
- Noise pollution concerns were a key factor in halting the project.
- The facility could have generated $35,000 per month and stabilized local electricity rates.
Colocation provider Revolve Labs has halted its proposal to build a Bitcoin mining facility near Windom, Minnesota, after residents expressed concerns about noise and home values.
The facility, which promised to generate $35,000 per month for the town and stabilize electricity rates for three years, faced pushback primarily due to worries about noise pollution from air-cooling fans.
Despite assurances from Revolve Labs that noise would be minimized, residents referenced complaints from another mining facility in Glencoe, Minnesota, as a basis for their concerns. During a public hearing in August, locals also questioned the broader benefits of Bitcoin mining, with some suggesting a moratorium on future permits for such projects.
Revolve Labs, which rebranded from Bit 49 in 2023, operates mining facilities across the U.S. with a capacity of 537 PH/s.
In a statement to The Minnesota Star Tribune, Jeff St. Onge of Revolve Labs emphasized the company’s commitment to working with the community. However, the firm’s decision to withdraw was met with mixed reactions, with some residents relieved, while others, like city utility superintendent Jason Sykora, were disappointed by the lost opportunity to lower energy costs.
This follows a similar incident in Norway, where a Bitcoin mining shutdown led to a 20% hike in local energy bills.
