In a significant legal turn, Marathon Digital’s plant manager, David Fischer, has been acquitted of 12 noise violations after facing complaints from residents near Granbury, Texas. The six-person jury’s decision, reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on July 10, marks a pivotal moment amid allegations that Marathon’s mining site caused hazardous noise levels, potentially endangering nearby residents’ hearing.
Noise Complaints and Legal Battle
Constable John Shirley of Hood County recorded noise levels exceeding 85 decibels on multiple occasions. Health standards consider these levels hazardous. A detailed TIME report on July 8 highlighted claims from over 40 Granbury residents, linking health issues to the noise from Marathon’s operations.
During the trial, Fischer’s defense argued that he was unfairly targeted and that any violations should have been directed at Marathon itself. They contended that the noise readings by Constable Shirley were exaggerated and that Marathon’s activities complied with legal industrial norms.
Mitigation Plans by Marathon Digital
In response to the concerns, Marathon Digital plans to transition to immersion cooling technology by year-end, replacing air-cooled systems. This method involves submerging mining rigs in a cooling fluid, which promises quieter operations and potentially alleviates health-related complaints.
The Impact of Bitcoin Mining
Bitcoin mining, a resource-intensive process, involves specialized computers solving cryptographic puzzles to secure the blockchain. This generates significant heat, and cooling these mining rigs with fans produces a distinct low-frequency hum. Some Granbury residents claim this noise is linked to various health issues such as heart problems, migraines, and tinnitus.
The acquittal of David Fischer underscores the complexities of balancing industrial activities with community health concerns. As Marathon Digital moves toward quieter cooling technologies, the Granbury community remains hopeful for a resolution to their noise-related grievances.
