An Arkansas Senate bill banning crypto-mining facilities from operating within 30 miles of any military installation, filed in response to Steve Landers Jr.’s crypto mine nearing completion near the Little Rock Air Force Base, was defeated in committee Thursday.
The City, County and Local Affairs Committee voted 5-1 not to advance Senate Bill 60 to the Senate floor. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Ricky Hill (R-Cabot) and supported by House Speaker Brian Evans (R-Cabot). The mine is going up just outside of Cabot city limits. Landers, who owns several crypto mines in the state through Interstate Holdings, told Arkansas Money & Politics that he has taken every precaution and received all necessary approvals to move forward with the mine and that the Air Force base voiced no opposition to his Lonoke County mine.
“Each one of our mines generates about $5,000 a month in local taxes based on their energy usage,” Landers said. “So there’s a benefit to local communities.”
Others in Arkansas and beyond had voiced complaints concerning the noise emanating from crypto mines in general, but almost all of the mines at the source of the complaints were found to be owned by Chinese companies. Landers said he is operating under his own decibel requirement of 55 decibels at his mines, meaning the noise emanating from them will not exceed that figure.
He said, based on information from Decibel Pro, the average conversation involving people standing or sitting three feet apart comes in at 65 decibels. He added that his mines do not use excess water or power from the grid.
“Everything is done by the book,” Interstate Vice President Dustin Curtis told AMP. “The proper steps were taken. Sound studies have been done, and we’re just trying to be a responsible company.”
As for security concerns about the mine being located near the Little Rock Air Force Base, Landers said the Air Force knows about the mine and has no objection. He cited a crypto mine located adjacent to an Air Force base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as an example.
