Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cocke County adopts rules for cryptocurrency mining in industrial zones
Summary
The Cocke County Legislative Body on Aug. 18 approved a zoning ordinance that sets minimum lot sizes, setback and noise limits, and cleanup surety for cryptocurrency mining operations in I‑1 industrial areas.
Cocke County’s legislative body adopted an ordinance on Aug. 18 that establishes development standards for cryptocurrency mining facilities in the I‑1 Industrial zoning district.
The ordinance requires a minimum lot size of 10 acres, a site plan for any proposed facility, and a written assurance from Newport Utility District demonstrating sufficient available electrical power. Buildings and equipment for mining must be set back at least 100 feet from property lines and sound at the property line may not exceed 60 decibels; the county allows additional sound mitigation to meet that limit. The rules also require a bond or other surety to ensure site cleanup when operations cease and specify that disposal of electronic equipment and debris must occur outside Cocke County.
Gayla Blazer moved to approve the zoning resolution establishing these requirements; David Veridal seconded and the motion carried. The ordinance appears in the minutes as Ordinance #1159. The county also included a provision that facilities should prefer immersion cooling systems to reduce noise and heat output.
Supporters of the measure cited the need for clear local standards to manage land-use impacts, public-safety access and infrastructure demands. The board took a regulatory approach—setting conditions for a special exception under the I‑1 district rather than prohibiting the activity outright.
The ordinance requires applicants to submit a site plan and written utility assurance as part of any special-exception application, and allows the Planning Commission and county staff to require additional mitigation if needed. The resolution and ordinance text are recorded in the Aug. 18 minutes.
The action sets local permitting expectations for prospective operators and provides the county with a financial assurance mechanism to cover removal and remediation costs if a facility is abandoned or ceases operations.
