Upcoming Crypto Mine in Arkansas to Seal Sound Within Walls

Walnut Ridge, a city in Arkansas, is welcoming a new crypto-mining facility in a few months. A facility is already operating near an airport in a secluded region of the town. The humming noise springing out of machines used to mine digital assets is among the primary issues the state’s denizens have opposed in recent times.

Sound Barriers Should Be Prioritized

City’s mayor, Charles Snapp, shows faith in sound barrier installation to prevent the drone from affecting localities, reports NBC affiliate KAIT. The regulator said, “Prior to the power being turned on, they’ll have engineered sound barriers built around the facility that will guarantee 55 decibels at their property line.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a public health agency in the United States, sound reaching beyond 80 decibels (dB) can be damaging to the ears. The frequency the mayor mentions is unlikely to cause any harm. In July, an Arkansas citizen complained about crypto mining noise troubling her autistic son.

“Residents who live near the facility say they’re skeptical but optimistic,” writes KAIT. A native speaks up about the job creation that this construction may facilitate in the coming months. However, Haywood County development director Jodie Ferguson holds just the opposite vantage point.

“Crypto mines are loud and the mining capacity is increased at nighttime. Crypto mines use tremendous amounts of electricity, create very few jobs, and avoid business equipment taxes by leasing the mining equipment,” Jodie said during a public hearing.

Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2023 or Act 851 supports crypto mining in a way that will create economic opportunities for local communities and the state. The law naturally signals a green light to crypto miners. Nevertheless, the Chinese crackdown on crypto mining had a more remarkable impact on easing entry barriers in the country.

Digital asset mining is actively involved in the energy debate given its energy-intensive process. A study conducted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) last year claims crypto mining takes up to 240 Billion kWh of electricity annually, enough to run a nation like Australia.

However, Act 851 lays out language vindicating that crypto mines in the regions will “Operate in a manner that causes no stress on an electric public utility’s generation capabilities or transmission network.” According to the U.S. News & World Report, an American media company, Arkansas stands at number 44 in terms of power grid reliability.

Arkansas has become more prone to power outages during the past few years. As per the available data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, the state experienced nearly 12 hours without electricity in 2020.

Power outages in the region could see a rise given the extreme weather events. The situation may either affect crypto mining activities in the region, or crypto mines could potentially worsen the power grids.

Anurag is working as a fundamental writer for The Coin Republic since 2021. He likes to exercise his curious muscles and research deep into a topic. Though he covers various aspects of the crypto industry, he is quite passionate about the Web3, NFTs, Gaming, and Metaverse, and envisions them as the future of the (digital) economy. A reader & writer at heart, he calls himself an “average guitar player” and a fun footballer.