Hadsel Residents Face Higher Electricity Bills After Bitcoin Mine Closure

According to Cointelegraph, residents of Hadsel, a Norwegian municipality, are experiencing increased electricity bills following the closure of a local Bitcoin mining operation. The mine's shutdown, which occurred during the week of September 9, was a result of noise complaints from the community. Hadsel, with a population of approximately 8,236, had been campaigning for years to close the facility due to the disturbance it caused to their lifestyle, as stated by Mayor Kjell-Børge Freiberg to the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) on September 13. The Bitcoin mining center accounted for about 20% of the income for the local electricity distribution provider, Noranett. With the mine's closure, the lost revenue has led to a rise in local electricity bills. Noranett network manager Robin Jakobsen noted that the sudden shutdown of such a significant customer has a substantial impact on the community's power costs. Climate tech venture capitalist Daniel Batten commented that this situation exemplifies how Bitcoin mining can help keep power prices lower for the general public. The data center consumed approximately 80 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity annually, which is equivalent to the yearly usage of around 3,200 households. Mayor Freiberg mentioned that the town would seek new projects to offset the reduced electricity consumption following the mining center’s closure. This is not the first instance of noise complaints related to Bitcoin mining in Norway. In September 2022, residents of Sortland, another Norwegian municipality, also reported disturbances from Bitcoin mining activities. Kjetil Hove Pettersen, CEO of the local KryptoVault, suggested that media coverage often highlights negative opinions, which may not represent the views of the entire community. In a related development, a bill imposing noise limits on crypto mining farms has passed in the American state of Arkansas and is awaiting the signature of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has indicated her support for the legislation.