Mountain City may soon welcome a bitcoin mining operation, as Cleanspark has secured preliminary backing from local planners, contingent upon final evaluations of the site and energy arrangements.
Cleanspark’s Bitcoin Mining Facility Proposal Moves Forward in Mountain City
The Mountain City Planning Board has expressed early favor toward a bitcoin mining data center proposed by Cleanspark (Nasdaq: CLSK), a Nevada-based enterprise specializing in cryptocurrency mining. Yet, full authorization remains dependent on the completion of a detailed site plan and finalized agreements with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
According to The Tomahawk report, Cleanspark Chief Operating Officer Scott Garrison stated that, if approved, the facility — envisioned for a 50.48-acre agricultural parcel at 178 Rainbow Road — could commence operations within two months. Thomas Sherrill of The Tomahawk reported that the property, assessed at $367,400 and owned by It’s His LLC and Steve Brown of North Carolina, would host application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) bitcoin mining equipment designed to minimize noise and avoid the use of air cooling.
Garrison stressed that the ASIC units would maintain sound levels akin to traffic along nearby U.S. 421, directly addressing previous community apprehensions. Cleanspark presently runs 31 comparable sites across the United States and is solely engaged in BTC mining. Sherrill’s coverage additionally highlights that the project would initially introduce 12 jobs, described as “top-dollar” opportunities not requiring a college degree, with possibilities for further hiring if an on-site repair facility is established.
Garrison further pointed to the company’s broader efforts at economic revitalization, including philanthropy and employment creation, citing Sandersville, Georgia, where he said workers “went from living in cars to buying homes.” Rodney Metcalf, general manager of Mountain Electric, voiced his support for the venture, suggesting that its substantial energy demands could help counterbalance “drastic” rate increases.
Mayor Jerry Jordan characterized the proposal as “promising,” though Sherrill’s report noted Jordan’s frustration over delays in finalizing the site plan. The Tomahawk also reported that Cleanspark is awaiting a TVA energy plan decision anticipated by mid-May. The planning board is scheduled to revisit the proposal on May 22, the article concluded. Cleanspark ranks as the fourth-largest publicly traded bitcoin miner by market capitalization.
