Alabama Town Left Powerless Against 50 MW Bitcoin Mining Data Center
The small town of Somerville in Alabama is facing a major challenge as a massive new Bitcoin mining data center, proposed by VoltCore, threatens to disrupt life in the otherwise idyllic town. The project, which spans 15 acres and has a capacity of 50 MW, was approved despite two separate moratoriums being put in place to prevent its construction.
The issue lies in the fact that Morgan County, where Somerville is located, follows Dillon's Rule, which limits the powers of local governments. As a result, the county commission has no zoning authority and cannot enforce any ordinances or regulations against the data center.
The developer, VoltCore, found a loophole in the system by using three different corporate identities: Sovereign Global Solutions Inc., Sovereign Gazelle LLC, and Project Avalanche. This allowed them to bypass local opposition and push forward with the project despite being denied easements by four landowners. The company is now routing utilities through the county's right-of-way, further complicating matters.
The situation has left residents feeling powerless against the developer's plans. Morgan County Commission Chairman Ray Long acknowledged that the county's resolution, which was passed unanimously after residents collected 450 signatures, was essentially a 'message' rather than an actual mechanism to force the developer to vacate its plans.