Faulkner County court pauses vote on emergency amendment to crypto-mining ordinance after public outcry and legal caution

Faulkner County justices convened a special meeting to consider proposed ordinance 25-12, an emergency amendment affecting crypto-mining operations and data centers, but recessed before voting after members asked for time to review a revised draft.

The proposed ordinance, described at the meeting as an amendment to ordinance 23-28, was presented by Justice House and moved for consideration by Justice Allison. Public commenters urged stricter enforcement, a moratorium and larger residential setbacks than those allowed under the state law referenced during the meeting (referred to by speakers as “act 174”). Alyssa Brown, a Faulkner County resident, asked the court to extend a 2,000-foot setback requirement to county-enforced zoning and suggested a moratorium while rules are finalized. “These crypto mines produce a lot of noise,” Brown said. “We have a lot of elderly in…