PANews reported on April 27 that according to Bitcoin.com, the Bitcoin mining data center proposal put forward by CleanSpark, a cryptocurrency mining company in Nevada, in Mountain City, Tennessee, has received preliminary support from the local planning committee, but it needs to complete detailed site planning and reach a final agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) before it can be fully approved. Scott Garrison, the company's chief operating officer, said that if approved, the 50.48-acre mine is expected to be put into production within two months, using low-noise ASIC mining equipment to avoid air cooling. He emphasized that the equipment noise will be comparable to nearby highway traffic in response to community noise concerns. CleanSpark operates 31 similar mines in the United States. The project will initially provide 12 "high-paying" jobs that do not require academic qualifications, and may further expand recruitment due to the establishment of maintenance facilities.
The company cited the Georgia project as an example, saying it would help workers improve their living conditions. Mountain City Power General Manager Rodney Metcalf also expressed support for the project, believing that its huge energy demand would help offset the "substantial" increase in electricity costs. Mayor Jerry Jordan called the proposal "promising," but was dissatisfied with its planning delays. CleanSpark is waiting for TVA's energy plan decision in mid-May, and the Planning Commission will review the proposal on May 22.
