JOHNSON CITY, Tenn., (WJHL) – The Johnson City Coalition Against Bitcoin Mining met at the Johnson City Public Library to inform the community of the progress the group’s Impact Committee has made.
The committee is working with Johnson City to conduct research studies concerning noise and environmental issues in order to set regulations for bitcoin mines.
The impact studies are in the process of being planned. The coalition hopes it can get started around October.
Johnson City City Manager Cathy Ball said the next steps are to find a consultant to help achieve the committee’s goals.
“We have all, as a group, been working through that process and having conversations around which consultants have the most experience in different areas and been collaborating in that type of manner,” Ball said. “Which consultants can do it in a timely manner and do it the right way. Which ones really have the knowledge and skill and understand Johnson City well enough.”
The coalition also announced a collaboration with a group from the University of Tennessee with experience in these issues.
City community advocate Sylvain Bruni said this collaboration will fill the gaps the impact studies may leave.
“They’re a part of a group called the Appalachian Justice Research Centre, and they will put us in touch with a variety of experts at UT,” Bruni said. “For all these areas that the impact study from the city will not necessarily cover, we will have access to professors and researchers and students at the University of Tennessee to do the actual research on those different areas.”
The UT experts will work directly with the community concerning legal questions citizens may have regarding bitcoin mines and what actions they suggest that are within legal action.
Bitcoin mining has caused concern, not only in Johnson City, but across East Tennessee.
Community advocate Kevin Hendricks said there is no benefit to bitcoin mining in our region.
“The people have really woken up to see that there really is no economic advantage to having these units,” Hendricks said. “[Bitcoin mines] come here and strip assets. They’re here for cheap power. That’s regulation, but they don’t employ anybody long-term. There’s just no long-term benefit.”
The Johnson City Coalition Against Bitcoin Mining will hold another community meeting on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.