(Scroll down for a list of NC counties with Crypto sites and existing County Ordinances.)

Cryptomining is the term for creating and accumulating cryptocurrency, such as bitcoins. Unfortunately, crypto-mining requires huge amounts of electricity to power many computers working on the "mining" process. This increased electricity demand adds to the climate crisis. Please watch the report by NBC News that describes cryptomining and the energy needed for it. This report estimates that bitcoin transactions use more energy annually than Argentina. The report also estimates that cryptomining uses 40% to 75% of the world's renewable energy. 

Due to power consumption, China and nine other countries have banned cryptomining on their soil as of May 2021. This has caused a mad scramble to find other places to set up shop, especially in the rural United States. Cherokee County and the town of Murphy have become victims. ANKR Mining Solution, a for-profit company, bought three acres of land in Cherokee County in September 2012 where it installed a cryptomining operation, It plans to install more "rigs" as well as open a second site. The noise and vibration from this operation impacts an estimated five-mile radius constantly. It's estimated that ANKR uses 30% of the local electrical power. 

 

Concerned citizens have created a Change.org petition that already has over 1,600 signatures. Please read and sign the petition. You DO NOT have to live in Cherokee County. As the petition points out, these operations could spread anywhere with no regulation.

These concerned citizens are asking the Cherokee County Commission to pass a noise ordinance to regulate ANKR. They are also sending their petition to our U.S. senators, the governor, the state legislature, the Department of Environmental Quality, and other state and federal agencies.

Feel free to reach out to Cyndie Roberson (roberace@icloud.com), who created the petition, if you wish to learn more, and if you would like to help.