The Granbury community reports serious health damage caused by Marathon Digital’s mining facility: a request for noise reduction or suspension of activities.
On October 4, more than twenty-five residents of Granbury, Texas, filed a lawsuit against the mining company Marathon Digital. At the center of the controversy is the “intolerable noise” produced by the local mining facility, which, according to the plaintiffs, is causing serious health problems in the community.
The complaint, filed with the Hood County Court, describes a situation of daily distress. The residents report “constant and relentless disturbance” that goes far beyond mere noise annoyance. It has emerged that numerous citizens have developed significant health issues, including chronic fatigue, migraines, hearing loss, tinnitus, memory problems, and worsening of pre-existing conditions such as hypertension.
The complaint states:
“Even in their own homes, [residents] can hear the MARA Cryptomine’s noise and feel its vibrations.”
In addition to noise pollution, the plaintiffs also complain about rising electricity bills and a devaluation of their property values.
Rodrigo Cantú, an attorney with the environmental law firm Earthjustice, representing the residents, stated:
“Our clients are asking Marathon to take immediate action to effectively mitigate the noise pollution or cease operations entirely.”
Information about the facility
Built in April 2022 by Compute North Holdings next to the Wolf Hollow II gas-fired power plant, the Granbury facility has changed ownership several times before coming under Marathon’s control last January. According to residents, the noise issues began in the spring of 2023.
The facility, which contributes to Marathon’s total computing power, generates 4.3 EH/s.
The Norwegian precedent
The case brings to mind a similar situation in the Norwegian municipality of Hadsel, where residents managed to obtain the closure of a Bitcoin mining facility due to noise issues. However, the victory brought unexpected consequences: citizens are now facing a 20% increase in electricity bills due to the loss of revenue for the local power company.
