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Missoula Co. Commission to discuss cryptocurrency mining operation zoning

Bonner Mill
Posted at 5:30 PM, Jan 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-19 19:45:13-05

MISSOULA — Missoula County Commissioners will take public comments Tuesday evening on permanent zoning for cryptocurrency mining operations.

The commission put interim zoning regulations on cryptocurrency mining in unincorporated portions of the county in April of 2019 after finding issues associated with the now-defunct Hyperblock Mine in Bonner. Those issues included excessive noise from cooling fans and electronic waste concerns among others.

The County brought on Sustainability Program Manager Diana Maneta in 2019 to help find a way to keep the city and county goal of 100 percent clean electricity for the Missoula urban area by 2030.

"Part of the regulation, the interim zoning regulation, the temporary zoning regulation that was adopted a couple of years ago was to require any new or expanded cryptocurrency mining operation in the county to bring its own new renewable energy sources along with it,” Maneta said.

You can find more information on cryptocurrency mining on the county website. The meeting begins at 6 p.m.