A proposed Bitcoin mining facility outside of Osage is creating a fresh wave of controversy and citizen protest from area residents. The developer behind Simple Mining will be making their case to the public on June 18th and the outcome should be interesting indeed. This has raised a new round of worries about noise, environmental damage and conflict-of-interest issues.

The meeting, scheduled for 6:00 P.M. at the Nature Center of the Mitchell County Conservation, aims to provide a platform for discussion. The venue was purposefully chosen to accommodate an expected record-breaking turnout. This decision reflects the remarkable level of community interest and concern that the project has drawn.

Lori Mark, another local resident whose property line lies just under a mile north of the proposed site. She has become one of the leaders rallying against the project. Mark estimated the actual footprint of the facility would take up just 0.07 acres. She and her neighbors are currently campaigning fiercely against the proposal, even collecting petitions to show how deeply unpopular it is with the community.

Even though we are not going to be allowed to speak, we do have petitions out circulating to let the board know, the voting members know, how we feel about it. - Lori Mark

Simple Mining first introduced the project to the Mitchell County Board of Adjusters in October. The proposal was met with a fierce backlash, prompting dozens of residents—Mark included—to file into their City Council meeting to speak against it. Ultimately, the board tabled the issue indefinitely.

The project’s unexpected revival has led the advocacy community to speculate on possible conflicts of interest. Vince Morische, a long-time resident and advocate of the area, until recently served on the city’s board of adjusters. The county attorney soon found a conflict of interest that named Morische. As his role on the board of the Heartland Power Cooperative, which is now working with Simple Mining, came into question.

Adam Haynes, founder and CEO of Simple Mining, has attempted to address noise concerns by stating:

So it’s basically the equivalent of an industrial air conditioner, so there’s virtually no noise associated with this particular set up. - Adam Haynes

Mark Firtsch, an Osage local, remains skeptical. He referenced other operations he's heard.

That noise was so loud, um, you could hear it from an Interstate when you’ve got traffic and trucks and everything else. - Mark Firtsch

Supporters of the project argue that the modest size of the project, just 0.07 acres, will minimize harmful effects. They claim this gives them a competitive edge compared to larger mining operations located in other states.