Hopkinsville Bitcoin Mine Fuels Data Center Battle

A bitcoin mining operation in Hopkinsville, Kentucky has sparked controversy as the city debates its first data center rules. For three years, a 15-megawatt crypto mining facility at Holland Substation has run quietly under North Campbell Land Co's ownership. However, residents have now brought it to light and officials are pushing for new zoning regulations.

The existing site could potentially shift towards computing work other than bitcoin mining, according to Thomas Masiero from NCLC. The company is also proposing a 50-megawatt data center elsewhere in Hopkinsville, along with a new substation that would be funded by the company at an estimated cost of $8 million to $10 million.

The issue has become a contentious one, with residents voicing environmental and quality-of-life concerns. Community and Development Services is drafting the city's first data-center zoning amendment, which proposes buffer distances for large facilities near homes or public properties. Operations already running when the rules take effect would be granted grandfathered status.

Attorneys for HES and NCLC argued that the draft is too restrictive, especially around setbacks. However, residents pushed back with calls for stronger protections, emphasizing the need to safeguard local water supplies and keep pollution at bay.