The Noranett network manager estimates that if the Bitcoin mine shutdown, families in Hadsel, Norway, could see their electricity bills increase by $280 a year.
Hadsel, a town that campaigned to close a local Bitcoin mine, is now facing higher electricity costs as the power company loses income from the mine’s closure.
“Blaming Bitcoin only ends up hurting people,” said climate tech investor Daniel Batten in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on September 13, after hearing the news.
Some residents had previously raised concerns about the noise from the Bitcoin mining operation.
Hadsel’s Bitcoin Mine Shutdown: Noise Relief Brings Higher Power Bills
Hadsel Mayor Kjell-Børge Freiberg told the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on Sept. 13 that the noise from a Bitcoin mining center was disturbing many residents in the town. Hadsel, home to about 8,236 people, finally closed the center in the week of Sept. 9.
While many people were happy at first, the mine’s closure—responsible for about 20% of the income for the local power company, Noranett—means electricity bills will go up to make up for the lost revenue.
“When a large customer like this shuts down quickly, it affects everyone,” said Noranett’s network manager Robin Jakobsen. He estimates that each household in Hadsel will now pay an extra $235 to $280 per year for electricity.
Daniel Batten, a climate tech investor, explained that Bitcoin mining can actually help keep electricity prices lower for regular people. The mining center used about 80 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, equal to the energy needs of 3,200 homes.
Mayor Freiberg added that the town is now looking for new projects to offset the reduced power usage after the mine’s closure.
This isn’t the first time a town in Norway has raised concerns about Bitcoin mining. In September 2022, residents of Sortland, another Norwegian town, also complained about the noise from Bitcoin mining.
Kjetil Hove Pettersen, CEO of KryptoVault, suggested that the negative media attention could be exaggerated. “The loudest complaints usually get the most coverage, but they don’t always reflect everyone’s opinion,” he explained.
In the U.S., a similar issue is being addressed. A new bill setting noise limits for crypto mining farms has passed in Arkansas, and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to sign it into law.
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