Johnson City residents voice opposition to potential Bitcoin mine
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – On Tuesday afternoon, members of the Johnson City community gathered to voice their concerns regarding a potential Bitcoin mine planned for the city.
Earlier on Tuesday, BrightRidge announced they were issuing a 'moratorium' for the mine. City resident Sylvain Bruni said this statement provided them with no reassurance.
'A moratorium is temporary,' he said. 'And there is no description in the press release as to how long that's going to be. Is it going to be a month, two months, six months until people forget about it and then can come back?'
Among the residents' concerns were health and the noise that would be emitted from the mine.
'My concern is the mental health effects and health effects,' resident Reenie Fetters said. 'Noise pollution, I mean, I'm an ex-military officer, and they do use sound as a weapon. Why on earth would we want this anywhere near us when it only employs about one person? It's not giving us more jobs.'
The proposed site is located near the VFW Post 2108. Fetters expressed her concerns regarding the local veterans.
'I know, as a former Air Force therapist, I know what some of these folks have been through,' she said. 'And that is going to have a deleterious effect on their health.'
Bruni said those opposed to the mine are asking city leaders to reconsider allowing the mine in.
'There are so many negatives there that we don't want this anywhere near us,' he said. 'So we invite the city to actually take it seriously and consider all of those elements of feedback provided by the community.'
Johnson City Mayor John Hunter said city leaders are looking at ways to restrict the mine as much as they are able to.
'What we're considering is increased buffering,' he said. 'Not just around the property line, but also around anything that makes noise. As well as cleaning up language in order to tie back to our actual noise ordinance.'
Hunter added that the city has considered limiting the zones in which the mine could be located.
'Our consideration is about the people that we serve,' Hunter said. 'And that we continue to make this a community that people want to live, work, and play is paramount.'
Despite those intentions, residents said they still have their reservations.
'It would be great to limit it to one or two [zones],' Fetters said. 'But if that's in my backyard, I still don't want it.'
Those opposed plan to voice their concerns during the City Commission meeting on Thursday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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