MARSHALL – It’s moratorium mania in Madison County.
During its June 13 meeting, the Madison County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a one-year moratorium on data processing facilities.
“Data processing facilities are just a fancy way to talk about crypto mining facilities, but it also includes bigger data centers like Apple or Google, or Facebook … in terms of server farms,” Development Services Director Brad Guth said. “Those are all kind of grouped together in zoning. We don’t have anything in our current Land Use Ordinance to deal with data processing centers. So, we’d like to have an opportunity to study that issue and establish some standards, and perhaps have a special use for data processing facilities in our ordinance.”
According to Guth, the moratorium will afford the county a year to develop guidelines, much like the other two moratoriums instated in the county within the past two calendar years – for special event facilities and biomass facilities.
“This will give us an opportunity to get our zoning ordinance in compliance with the possibility of data processing,” Guth said.
When Commissioner Alan Wyatt asked Guth whether a developer had approached the county about exploring the potential of bringing a data processing facility to the county, Guth said no.
“We have not had any inquiries about a request for information or anything regarding data processing facilities,” Guth said. “It’s been in the news, as you’ve seen, and Buncombe County just recently did a moratorium for their zoning ordinance.
“Of course, Cherokee County is probably wishing that they had done a moratorium, because that’s where we’re getting all the negative feedback from because there is a facility there that essentially makes a lot of noise, all the time. So, that’s where the issue has come up in the mountains. So that’s why we want to study it and get it addressed.”
As reported by Asheville Citizen Times’ Sarah Honosky, the Buncombe County Commissioners approved a one-year moratorium on data processing facilities on May 2.
In that May 2 meeting, Planning Director Nate Pennington briefed commissioners on the proposed ordinance, and said the next year will give the county time to work with residents and Planning Board members to “craft standards for the newly defined use,” and consider mitigation methods to regulate it.
Wyatt asked whether the ordinance would result in a working group composed of Madison County Planning Board members.
“If that’s the way the board sees it to happen, that would be fine,” Guth said.
In North Carolina, the conversation around crypto mining began broadly in the town of Murphy in Cherokee County, about 90 miles southwest of Asheville, wedged between Tennessee and Georgia in the state’s westernmost corner.
More:Noisy neighbors: Rural North Carolina towns battle the cryptocurrency mines next door
In Murphy, noise created from some of the crypto mines has begun to terrorize community members, described in some reporting as an “otherworldly pitch,” and in an August story from The Washington Post, as “a jet-like roar” that never ends.
Though there was a public comment period presented at the Madison County Board of Commissioners June 13 meeting, no residents offered comments.
Laurel resident and Sustainable Madison co-founder Liz Gullum said “Like biomass, there is no place for this type of industry” in Madison, adding that the noise complaints from Murphy residents could be replicated if a data processing facility came to Madison County.
“I’m happy to know that our commissioners educated themselves on data centers and the hazards they pose to rural communities,” she said. “The amount of electrical drain and the noise alone are good reasons to keep them out of Madison. The natural beauty of the county and our historical and musical heritage need to be preserved and protected. This moratorium is a step in the right direction.”
Read More: Madison County imposes 1-year moratorium on data processing facilities