The major cryptocurrency mining company Marathon Digital has been sued by residents of the city of Granbury, Texas, on charges of noise pollution, which, according to local residents, is harming their health and disrupting their usual way of life.
A group of local residents filed a lawsuit in Texas district court against Marathon Digital Holdings, Inc., claiming that the company’s bitcoin mining facility is causing "serious health problems and a deterioration in the quality of life" for people living near the site.
According to a statement from the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, which represents the plaintiffs, at least two dozen local residents have experienced serious health issues, including irreversible hearing loss, migraines, tinnitus, and severe dizziness.
The plaintiffs are also concerned about rising electricity costs in the region, reporting bill increases of $100–200 per month. In addition, residents are complaining about a decrease in their property values, as the constant noise and vibrations from the mining facility are turning their homes into "prisons."
The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction to prevent excessive noise at Marathon's mining farm and calls for the court to take measures to protect the rights and health of local residents.
Noise complaints were filed with local law enforcement from November 2023 to March 2024. The company’s attempts to reduce noise levels, including installing a 24-foot sound wall, have been insufficient.
Marathon Digital stated that it commissioned a third-party organization to conduct a noise level study and promised to continue investigating the situation.