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Resident urges Burke County to adopt zoning limits for crypto-mining centers over energy, noise and water concerns
Summary
Public commenter Steve Starns urged the board to adopt a new zoning classification for high-energy data centers (including crypto mining), citing large electricity and water demand, continuous industrial noise, secrecy by operators and limited long-term local jobs.
During the meeting’s public comment period on March 16, Burke County resident Steve Starns urged commissioners to take a proactive stance against unregulated growth of crypto-mining data centers in the county.
"Tonight, I'm asking you to take a firm, proactive stance against an unchecked spread of crypto mining data centers in our county," Starns said, arguing the operations run 24 hours a day, draw extraordinary amounts of electricity, can produce industrial-level noise from thousands of cooling fans and, in some cases, rely on evaporative cooling systems that consume large volumes of water.
Starns said many communities have later discovered the true operators, energy and water demands, and construction plans only after facilities were in place because companies use shell companies, nondisclosure agreements and vague project descriptions. He urged the board to create a dedicated zoning classification for high-energy data centers and to require greater transparency from applicants.
Chairman Griffin and commissioners thanked Starns for his comments; the board did not take immediate action on zoning changes during the meeting, and no staff report on crypto-mining regulations was on the agenda.
Why it matters: counties nationwide have weighed zoning and permitting responses to high-energy data centers to address grid impacts, noise, water use and land-use compatibility. Starns’ remarks put those concerns on the record and requested a specific policy response from Burke County officials.
