Bitcoin Mining Data Center Sparks Controversy in Alabama

A proposed bitcoin mining data center in Somerville, Alabama has sparked controversy among local residents. The company behind the project, Sovereign Gazelle, is seeking to build a 50-megawatt facility on a 15-acre property near Union Road.

However, Morgan County officials have expressed concerns about the project's environmental impact and lack of zoning laws in the area. In response, the county commission adopted a resolution imposing a one-year moratorium on data centers in unincorporated Morgan County.

The company is now exploring an underground route for electrical lines to supply the facility, which could accommodate 42,000 homes.

County officials acknowledge that they lack the authority to enforce the moratorium, and the company could proceed with its plans regardless of local opposition.