Cryptocurrency mining is stressing the Texas power grid and causing “unexplained health problems,” for residents of some small towns in the state, according to a new report from the San Antonio Express-News Thursday. And opposition to the crypto operations isn’t necessarily coming from the people you might expect. But one crypto company that’s gotten heat for its operations is pushing back against allegations that it’s causing health problems for local residents.

The report from the Express-News details a meeting earlier this week about plans for a new 300-megawatt power plant from Constellation Energy near the town of Granbury. The plant is new but would be in addition to existing power facilities already used by Marathon Digital, a Florida-based crypto company, which appears to prefer calling its endeavors in the area a “digital asset data center,” according to a company website.

The Express-News cites the “unyielding low-frequency sound waves” that have caused locals to lose sleep since the crypto mine opened in 2022. The “constant noise,” as the report puts it, is “emanating from thousands of fans,” that are necessary to cool the mining equipment. The report quotes an 81-year-old man who lives just 800 feet from the Constellation Energy property and spoke at a public meeting with company representatives on Monday, saying, “It’s not right. Y’all moved in on top of us. We didn’t move in on y’all.”

The Express-News spoke with people who allege a range of health issues such as hypertension are hearing loss are due to crypto mining operations. One person who spoke with the newspaper even seemed to suggest a mass found in her mother’s brain could be connected, insisting “doctors are baffled after determining that the mass is not a tumor.”

The meeting on Monday included five representatives of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as well as two environmental consultants from Constellation, according to the report. The newspaper also noted that many of the town residents at the meeting to complain were older middle-aged white guys wearing attire supporting Donald Trump. The former president has repeatedly said he wants to unleash U.S. energy from fossil fuels, often suggesting that President Joe Biden has somehow stopped energy production in this country. That, of course, is a lie, given the fact that the U.S. is currently producing more energy than any country in human history. But it’s still notable that people who are aligned with right-wing causes are so upset about the power plants.

Marathon Digital stressed to Gizmodo that it has studied the alleged noise issues, including on July 18, 2024, when it says an independent consultant conducted a sound study of the Granbury data center.

“We are unaware of any scientific basis to conclude that any sounds from our facility can cause the types of conditions alleged or did cause them in any of those who have expressed concerns,” a spokesperson for Marathon said in an email to Gizmodo Thursday.

The statement also said Marathon “is committed to being a thoughtful neighbor” and the company “continues to take steps to enhance the data center,” promising that enhancements are being made for the “betterment of the community.”

Constellation has also released several statements in recent months about the noise complaints from residents in an attempt to address the concerns at the energy facility, known as Wolf Hollow II.

“Constellation and our team at Wolf Hollow II have been closely monitoring the noise situation at the bitcoin facility next to the plant, including the recent town hall meetings and news coverage,” one statement from June reads. “As a proud member of the Hood County community, we take the concerns local residents have raised seriously. We are in regular, direct conversations with residents. We hear the concerns, and we are working closely with the bitcoin facility’s owner to look for ways to reduce noise and address the community’s concerns.”

Marathon Digital also has a publicly-facing Frequently Asked Questions page online that stresses it’s working on the noise issues.

“Recent progress includes deactivating over eighty air-cooled containers, starting an extension of the sound wall, and beginning to convert containers to liquid immersion cooling,” the company explains. “We will continue to deactivate air-cooled containers and convert containers to immersion cooling. Additionally, we’ve budgeted $100,000+ to support local schools, nonprofits, and projects in 2024.”

Recent photos and videos taken at Giga Texas suggest that Tesla’s production of the Cybertruck is ramping as Q3 2024 enters its final weeks. Interestingly enough, some of the Cybertrucks that were spotted in the Giga Texas complex were still being shipped using covered cargo trailers. 

The recent footage of Giga Texas was shared by longtime Tesla watcher and Cybertruck owner Joe Tegtmeyer, who has been observing and chronicling the area’s developments since its earliest days. As noted by the drone operator, immediately noticeable during his recent flyover was the hundreds upon hundreds of Cybertrucks at the outbound lot on the west side of the facility. 

Other groups of Cybertrucks were also spotted at the factory’s exit, suggesting that the vehicles were being produced at a steady pace. This could be hinted at in the large number of megacasts for the Cybertruck that were being stored outside Giga Texas as well. Estimates from the drone operator suggest that Tesla’s Cybertruck production is probably closing in on about 2,000 per week. 

Lots and lots of @cybertruck at the Giga Texas outbound lot this morning, with a large group being moved into covered carriers. Production seems very robust too as I saw many more exiting the factory along with a big group of Model Ys. More coming up later today! pic.twitter.com/HczIiECCI8

— Joe Tegtmeyer 🚀 🤠🛸😎 (@JoeTegtmeyer) September 11, 2024

Interestingly enough, some of the Cybertrucks at the Giga Texas holding lot were being transported away using covered trailers. This is quite different from the norm, which typically involves several Cybertrucks being shipped using a conventional car carrier truck. Tesla has not explained why some Cybertrucks are transported away using cargo trailers from Giga Texas as of yet. 

The increasing number of Cybertrucks at Giga Texas bodes well for Tesla as orders for the vehicle will likely see a rise once the all-electric pickup truck ends the Cybertruck Foundation Series, which requires a $20,000 premium. The Cybertruck is selling pretty well today, but once Foundation Series premium is removed, it will likely attract a notable number of buyers. 

Tesla is hard at work in developing the Cybertruck further. Back in late July alone, Tesla Sr. Manufacturing Engineer Cole Otto noted in a post on social media platform LinkedIn that the electric vehicle maker has built its first-ever dry cathode Cybertruck. Previous reports suggest that the vehicle was equipped with 4680 cells whose positive and negative electrodes were produced using Tesla’s dry process. Current generation Cybertrucks are reportedly equipped with 4680 cells that feature a lower-cost negative electrode and a more costly positive electrode that is still sourced from suppliers like LG.

Watch Joe Tegtmeyer’s recent Giga Texas flyover in the video below. 

Don’t hesitate to contact us with news tips. Just send a message to simon@teslarati.com to give us a heads up.

Tesla Giga Texas fills with Cybertrucks as Q3 enters its final weeks

Texas volleyball wasn’t about to let another two-set lead slip away.

Four days after Miami rallied to win three straight sets to steal a win on the Longhorns’ home court, No. 6 Texas took care of business, 3-0, Wednesday against Houston at Gregory Gymnasium.

More: Texas volleyball downs Indiana, celebrates national title: 3 takeaways from home opener

A return to the starting lineup by setter Ella Swindle coincided with one of the Longhorns’ most efficient attacks of the young season. Texas (3-2) fired 48 kills with just 11 hitting errors for a hitting percentage of .370, which was just a few points short of the .385 hitting percentage last week against Indiana. Swindle had a season-high 37 assists in the 25-19, 25-18, 25-20 win, which matched her career-high for a three-set match set last season in a NCAA Tournament match against SMU.

Averi Carlson, an offseason transfer from Baylor, has played well at setter through the first two weeks of the season and started the previous two matches for Texas.

More: Why future Longhorn Lily Davis’ U19 gold medal for Team USA is just the beginning

Swindle spent most of the match spreading the wealth to her array of outside hitters. The trio of Madisen Skinner (13 kills), Reagan Rutherford (12) and Jenaa Wenaas (11) combined for 36 kills with just seven total hitting errors.

The Longhorns will face a stern test Sunday with a trip to No. 2 Stanford.