Cat Spring, Texas

“It seemed like a good idea at the time!”

Winners and losers in the small Texas town of Granbury, Texas

Promises of Economic Growth and Utility Relief

In late 2021 and early 2022, local officials—including Hood County Commissioners Court—approved the development of a large-scale cryptocurrency mining operation at the Wolf Hollow II gas plant site just outside Granbury. The backstory:

Constellation Energy, operator of Wolf Hollow II, partnered with crypto firms to host a Bitcoin mining facility on its site. Officials and industry representatives assured the community that the facility would: Use “stranded energy”—otherwise unused generation capacity—offering stability and revenue without burdening the grid. Provide local jobs and economic diversification in rural Hood County. Contribute tax revenue and potential incentives to the region.

Political Climate

The timing aligned with a broader Texas strategy under Governor Greg Abbott to position the state as a national leader in blockchain and crypto mining. Supporters argued these facilities would bolster energy resilience, given miners’ flexibility to shed load during grid stress. President Trump is also a big promoter of crypto and many residents of Granbury voted for both Abbott and Trump, but now say they’re not happy with them.

🌪 The Fallout: What Residents Have Experienced

From Quiet Rural Life to Constant Noise and Disturbance

Before construction in April 2022, residents described Granbury’s countryside as peaceful and free from industrial disturbance. The Wolf Hollow gas plant posed minimal interference.

But by fall 2023, the situation had changed dramatically:

Crushing hums and vibrations: The mining operation’s industrial fans generated a constant low-frequency roar—some measuring up to 95 dB—felt inside homes and around properties. Partial sound walls reportedly made things worse. Health impacts: Residents report tinnitus, migraines, vertigo, anxiety, and sleep deprivation. Some local pets and wildlife have also exhibited stress and behavioral changes. One homeowner lost a horse attributed to the disturbance. Economic harm: Homes near the facility became virtually unmarketable. Some residents saw property-tax reductions of up to 50% after appraisals confirmed rapid devaluation of their homes. Electricity bills soared by $100–200 per month.

Attempts at Mitigation

Marathon Digital, which took over the facility in early 2024, has disputed the health claims, stating that their operations remain within legal sound limits and that no scientific link to illnesses has been proven. The company is gradually converting to quieter liquid immersion cooling and extending sound barriers—though residents say nothing has changed.

🛠 What Residents Are Doing Now to Seek Relief

Coalition Building & Legal Action

In October 2024, more than two dozen neighbors formed the Citizens Concerned About Wolf Hollow (CCAWH). They filed a lawsuit against Marathon Digital in Hood County, represented by Earthjustice. Their claims:

A private nuisance lawsuit, arguing that the noise and vibration substantially interfere with property use and impact residents’ physical and mental health. A request for a permanent injunction: residents want either significant noise mitigation or facility shutdown. They maintain that monetary damages won’t restore sleep, health, or home value.

https://time.com/6982015/bitcoin-mining-texas-health/

Health & Environmental Evidence

The suit includes detailed affidavits from CCAWH members documenting:

Health diagnoses like heart arrhythmia, hearing loss, vertigo, anxiety, and chronic fatigue. Noise recordings, wildlife decline observations, pet distress reports, and structural vibrations.

Public Advocacy and Political Pressure

Neighbors have also:

Shared firsthand experience through local media appearances and storytelling on platforms like “Bitcoin Noise Hood County” and Protect Hood County campaigns. Engaged county officials. Hood County Commissioner Nannette Samuelson has pledged to appeal to the state legislature for stronger noise protections and regulatory oversight.

🔍 Why It Matters: A Broader Lesson

Granbury illustrates the friction between local economic growth and community well‑being:

Officials approved the project based on financial incentives, potential tax receipts, job creation, and promises of using otherwise wasted energy. Residents paid the price in health, home value, and quality of life—trapped in a formerly idyllic setting that became nearly uninhabitable. The case is drawing wider attention as part of a national pattern where crypto-mining operations—with minimal oversight—pose environmental and public health risks.

📌 What Could Happen Next?

If successful, the lawsuit may result in restrictions, shutdowns, or changes to the plant’s operations. Even without an injunction, growing public scrutiny may push local leaders toward stricter permitting and zoning oversight. Legislative reform may follow if the case spurs statewide attention to crypto-mining noise pollution and energy-use regulation.

📝 Conclusion

Granbury’s experience serves as a cautionary tale. What was pitched as a win-win deal—stranded energy profits for the county, minimal impact—has disrupted lives. Now, residents are fighting back through collective action, legal channels, and advocacy to reclaim their homes and health. Granbury is only one example of the costs to health, quality of life and property values that are happening around the country. And they’re just getting started. There are many more crypto farms and server farms in the planning stages thanks to the push for AI. The time is now to educate your community before they get sold a bill of goods.