What’s the problem?

Polluting Data Centers and Crypto Mines. 

The rapid growth of data centers and cryptocurrency mines is driving up electricity demand and prolonging America’s dependence on fossil fuels. Many data centers also consume millions of gallons of water, create noise pollution and diesel generators put local air quality at risk.

Forcing an existing data center or crypto mine owner to stop polluting or harming quality of life isn’t easy. Stopping a new one from coming into your community can be challenging too. But well-organized communities have shown that when citizens band together they can stand up for their health and the environment and get results

Here’s what some communities are doing:

  • When Cyndie Roberson learned about a proposed cryptomine in her county, she reached out to neighbors and organized her community. From her efforts, 900 people turned out to a public hearing in April 2024 where residents defeated the cryptomine proposal and put a moratorium in place. 
  • Community members in Mountain City, Tennessee, started organizing community members to prevent the construction of a 30 megawatt bitcoin mine on 50 acres of land in a residential neighborhood. They held weekly education and planning meetings with their neighbors, created lawn signs, posted on social media and packed the public hearing room full of over 50 concerned citizens where they testified. Ultimately, the town rejected the proposed project.

New technologies should not require us to sacrifice a clean and healthy environment . That’s why we should require the owners and operators of data centers to

  • Be transparent about their impact on our air, land and water
  • Ensure they are not polluting the local environment and consuming local water supplies
  • Power their facilities with 100% clean renewable energy. 

Cyndie Roberson is already working towards those long term solutions by winning local ordinances in 14 jurisdictions in North Carolina and Georgia to stop the expansion of cryptomining facilities. 

How we can help