Judge rules in favor of DeWitt Bitcoin mine in noise ordinance case

DEWITT, Ark. — Jones Digital LLC, the digital asset mining company building a controversial facility outside DeWitt, won a federal judge’s ruling that halts Arkansas County from enforcing a noise limit approved last month that was stricter than decibel restrictions the county imposed in July.

U.S. District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky granted Jones Digital a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the new noise ordinance, which the Arkansas County Quorum Court passed on Oct. 10.

Jones’ lawyers argued that the October ordinance sought to impose discriminatory decibel limits and notification inquiries on Jones Digital despite Act 851 of 2023, which outlawed “discrimination” against data centers and bitcoin miners. Digital currency mines and plans for them have spurred protests by their neighbors in several counties, and Act 851 set off a race for municipalities and counties to impose noise limits before the law took effect Aug. 1.

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https://www.5newsonline.com/article/news/local/dewitt-bitcoin-mine-gets-court-victory-judge-strikes-noise-ordinance/527-f1e2201f-9c4c-4497-838b-b33845f7bbce